May 24, 2005 Edition 4

I believe direct constituent contact is central to being an effective elected official and I strive to be the most accessible elected official in King County. This is something I care about deeply. This Flyer is just another example of my commitment to bring you information so you can learn more about my Democratic values.

Since taking office in 2004, I have implemented innovative ways to communicate with my constituents and keep them informed on issues critical to our community. It is easy to stay downtown, making policy decisions and taking votes, without getting out in the community to discuss these issues with the people that will feel the greatest impact of these decisions. My record is clear – I will always listen and be responsive to your concerns.

I would be honored to have your support. If you have any questions about my campaign, please email me at bob@electbobferguson.com or call me at home at 206-523-7245.

Sincerely,

My Commitment to Being Your Most Accessible Elected Official

County Council to your door: While doorbelling over 22,000 homes during my 2003 campaign, I learned that the best way to know what my neighbors think is to talk with them right on their doorsteps. That is why I decided to bring the King County Council to you through door-to-door contact. My staff and I have personally visited over 4,000 homes distributing County resource information and invitations to upcoming town hall meetings. My door-to-door program offers one more way for busy people to stay informed. Most importantly, it helps keep me aware of important community issues and opinions so that I can best represent your views at the Council.

Constituent Coffees: Each week, I meet one-on-one with constituents at local coffee shops. The constituent coffee program is very simple—if any constituent wants to talk directly to me about any issue, I schedule a one-on-one meeting at a neighborhood coffee shop. I believe it is important that constituents have a personal connection to their elected official and that they don’t have to talk to a staff person if they are interested in expressing their opinions directly to me. Since taking office, I’ve had over 150 coffee appointments on just about every issue before the Council.

Volunteering: To better understand issues affecting our community, my staff and I volunteer each month at a different non-profit organization. This is a wonderful opportunity to learn more about service organizations in the district. Not only is this volunteer work a great chance for my office to give back to our community, it also provides us with a greater understanding of the wonderful resources that are available for those most at need. We’ve volunteered at food banks, senior centers, homeless teen shelters, and youth environmental groups.

Newsletters: I distribute a regular print newsletter and monthly electronic newsletter to keep constituents informed of important issues affecting our community. Since January 2004, I’ve distributed six print newsletters on topics such as human services funding, election reform, and transportation solutions. I’ve also distributed two surveys – on transportation and election reforms – and received over 3,000 responses. I was the first Councilmember to establish an electronic newsletter, which is distributed to over 2,000 community members each month. Each edition of e-news details current issues before the Council and provides information on upcoming events.

Town Meetings: I host frequent town meetings focused on issues such as election reform, human services funding, and transportation. I’ve sponsored seven town meetings since taking office, with attendance levels ranging from 80 to 200. I believe it is my responsibility to make the meeting relevant to our community by carefully selecting the subjects and ensuring a large number of community members are invited to attend.

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