Changing the Game:

the Power of New Alliances and Messengers in Ballot Measure Campaigns

A funder phone briefing organized by: The General Service Foundation and the Ms. Foundation for Women

Among the most dramatic features of the current political landscape is the shifting makeup of the electorate that includes a steadily growing youth vote and increases in the Latino, Asian American and African American voting public. On this variable terrain, opportunities may be met or missed based on the presence or absence of authentic long-term engagement with racial and ethnic communities and new coalitions.  This call will focus on specific examples that point the way to winning short-term gains on social justice issues that many had previously thought unwinnable.  Two concrete multi-issue campaigns in Colorado provide rich food for thought on how integrated voter engagement strategies, with a deep organizing component, can change the game and create positive social change.

The Funders’ Committee for Civic Participation and the Funders Network on Population, Reproductive Health and Rights invite you to participate in this timely phone briefing moderated by Teresa Purcell, a consultant for the Ms. Foundation, who will share how advocates in Colorado effectively worked within and among new demographic constellations and coalitions.  She will be joined by speakers Jacy Montoya, the Executive Director of Colorado Organization for Latina Opportunity and Reproductive Rights (COLOR), who will share lessons learned from the campaign to overwhelmingly defeat Amendment  48 (a ballot initiative that defined “personhood” at the moment of conception),  Linda Meric, the Executive Director of 9to5, National Association of Working Women, who will discuss the campaign to successfully defeat Amendment 46 (an anti-affirmative action ballot initiative), and Dave Metz, Senior Vice President, Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin and Associates who will share polling data on how new frames, new messengers, and multi-issue campaigns strengthened both Colorado ballot measure campaigns.

SPEAKER BACKGROUND:

Teresa Ponsultant, Purcell Public Affairsurcell, C

Over the past 23 years, Teresa has consulted and collaborated on over 170 political, public relations and media campaigns throughout the United States. She managed the successful long-shot U.S. Senate race for the first female Senator elected from Washington State – U.S. Senator Patty Murray.  Teresa has also served as a lobbyist, executive director, and senior project director for a national environmental group.  Teresa has conducted trainings throughout the United States and internationally.

Teresa founded Purcell Public Affairs Inc. in 2001 to provide clients with expertise in strategy, communications, and mobilization. She specializes in strategic planning, communications, public opinion research, message development, campaign planning, training, organizational development, issue management and media relations. Teresa also has extensive experience in non-partisan voter engagement and education program development, implementation, and evaluation.

Jacy Montoya, Executive Director, COLOR

Jacinta 'Jacy' B. Montoya is the executive director of Colorado Organization for Latina Opportunity and Reproductive Rights (COLOR). Jacy was born and raised in the Denver area to a Chicano father and a mother of Irish-German descent, whose families have lived in Colorado for more than 7 generations. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in the Growth & Structure of Cities program at Bryn Mawr College in Pennsylvania. Upon graduation Jacy returned to Denver to work in the community in which she was raised. Jacy's goal is to contribute to healthy communities, healthy Latinas, and healthy families by working to turn policy into action. Jacy received Choice USA's 30 under 30 Activists for Reproductive Justice in 2004. 

Linda Meric, Director, 9to5 National Association of Working Women

Linda Meric is the Director of 9to5, National Association of Working Women, an inclusive multi-racial membership organization founded in 1973 to strengthen the ability of low-income women to win economic justice through grassroots organizing and policy advocacy. Linda helped found 9to5 Colorado in 1996 and served as the chapter’s Director until fall 2004 when she became 9to5’s national Director. Under Linda’s leadership, 9to5 has won important victories on minimum wage, good jobs, work-family, anti-discrimination, pay equity, welfare, child care and other issues affecting low-income women. Before 9to5, Linda spent 20 years as a labor and community organizer. Linda has received several awards for her work with and on behalf of low-income women.

David Metz, Senior Vice President, Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin & Associates

David Metz, Senior Vice President of Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin & Associates, has provided qualitative and quantitative research and strategic advice to dozens of non-profit organizations, government agencies, businesses, and candidate and ballot measure campaigns in over 40 states since joining the firm in 1998.   With a focus on ballot measure campaigns, Metz has provided research and consulting to help win voter approval for five successful statewide bond measures providing $15 billion to protect land and water in California, as well as major state and local conservation finance measures in Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Arizona, Nevada, New Jersey, Ohio, Oregon and Hawaii.  Metz’s other work on ballot measure campaigns has included successful efforts to pass statewide tobacco taxes or clean indoor air measures in California, Colorado, Florida, and Arizona; redistricting reform in California; and renewable energy requirements in Washington State.    Metz also provided research and strategic advice to the successful campaign to pass Arizona's Proposition 202, which received more votes than two competing measures and established a new legal structure for Indian gaming in one of the most expensive and hard-fought campaigns in state history.   While at FMM&A, Metz has also served as FMM&A's lead research analyst for numerous candidates for public office, including U.S. Senators Herb Kohl (D-WI) and Patty Murray (D-WA).   David Metz received his Bachelor's degree in Government from Harvard University in 1993. He received his Master's in Public Policy from the Goldman School of Public Policy at the University of California-Berkeley in 1998.