Advocacy to the Anne Arundel County Council

Testifying at the public hearing

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• Testimony at public hearings is a necessary part of an effective strategy

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• Individual hearing statements generally have minimal effect, however, there can be power in numbers.  Recruit other members of your organizations to testify

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• Spend time prepping with the other members so that you have coherent and impactful statements that tie together

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• Your Council representative may know you, but other Council members are most likely to be responsive to their constituents.  Enlist allies from other districts from environmental action groups to your cause.  

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• ​​There is a 2-minute time limit on testimony, which is usually tightly enforced

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• Practice and trim your presentation so that you have time to make your desired points

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• Speak in a normal voice and cadence to succinctly communicate a limited number of key points

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• Don’t rush and do not just read a prepared statement

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• State your name, address, and credentials (officer in a relevant group,   subject matter experience,  length of residency in District...)

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• Concisely state the action you want; approve, reject; amend, hold, etc.

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• Defend your position with facts & logic

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• Restate the action you want

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• 10 copies of any supporting documentation should be passed to the meeting secretary who will distribute them to the Council.

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