By Brian Sanderson, President and Founder of Three Oak Group

The current COVID-19 crisis brings new, unprecedented dynamics for government relations professionals, particularly when interfacing with a governor or staff. There is no historical reference for staff to rely upon in navigating this crisis. Staff are assessing current resources and projecting future needs in the face of an unpredictable enemy. A few points should be kept in mind when engaging with governors’ staff over the next few weeks:

1. Ensure the ask is compelling and germane to the prevailing situation.
   
   
2. Engage with the right person. Chiefs of staff are inundated with every issue so try to connect with a subject matter point person when possible.
   
   
3. Make the ask clear, compelling, and concise. Time is a precious commodity in this crisis.
   
   
4. Make execution easy. Explain how the issue may be implemented without hampering staff or budget resources.
   
   
5. Recognize any political pitfalls that may come with the execution of the ask.
   

Related resources for state think tanks

Michigan Governor adopts Mackinac Center’s healthcare recommendations

State-by-State Guide of Coronavirus Solutions

Federal Updates for States: A tracker of federal updates and action steps and what they mean for states

COVID-19 Resources for State Think Tanks