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The North Carolina General Assembly began the 2007 “long” session on January 24, 2007. You can help the North Carolina Association of ABC Boards by contacting the Representatives and Senators who represent you in the Legislature. Effective lobbying requires both constituent contact and direct lobbying efforts. Below you will find below instructions on how to determine who represents you, and how to locate their contact information.
There are several new members of the Legislature, but most of the members will be returning. Now is great time to contact new members, and to congratulate returning members on their re-election. Legislators are dependent on your vote, as their constituent, and are always anxious to hear from you and to learn of your interests and issues.
Even a brief telephone call to a Legislator will assist the Association with its legislative issues. You can contact a Legislator at their office back home or in their legislative office. A Legislator is more likely to remember you if you reach them while they are home in their District.
When you call, be sure to identify yourself by your name and by the name of your ABC Board. You should also add that your ABC Board is an active member of the Association. You should convey early in the conversation that you are a constituent. If you have any kind of existing connection, you can lead in with a reminder of that connection. You can close by asking them to let you know if they have any questions or need any information on any issues related to alcohol issues.
It is not necessary to have a long conversation. Nor is it necessary to call. If you prefer to write your Legislator, a personal letter or short note is also a good idea. If you write to their home address, it is helpful to send a copy to the legislative address. Emails come to Legislators by the hundreds while they are in session, so they are read far less than personal letters or notes.
The point of these communications is to establish, or further, relationships with your Legislators, and to let them know you are interested in their activities in the General Assembly. This conveys to them that you and your Association are politically active and are involved in the legislative process. When an issue comes before the General Assembly, you want them to remember the ABC Board back home, and to thoroughly consider the position of the Association on any legislative issue.
By Telephone: Call your local board of elections to determine the NC House District and NC Senate district in which you live, and the names of your elected representatives to the North Carolina General Assembly. When the General Assembly is in session, you can call the switchboard at the General Assembly at (919) 733-4111, provide them with the NC House District number and the NC Senate District number in which you live, and ask them to provide you with the names and telephone numbers of your Representatives and Senators. It is best, however, to know who represents you before calling the switchboard. The switchboard, though it can be busy at times, can put your calls through to your Representatives and Senators. If you do not know the name of your Senator or Representative or your Senate or House District, then do not call the switchboard.
By the Internet if you know the House or Senate District or names of your Legislators
1. Access the NC General Assembly website at http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/
2. Click on the word “House” in the upper left corner of the page for the House of Representatives.
3. Click on “House Member List” under the heading “House Information”.
4. Scroll until you find the name of the member of the House of Representatives, and click on the name to
find contact information, including legislative and non-legislative telephone numbers and addresses.
You will also find a picture of the Representative here.
5. Use the same process to find Senators.
By the Internet if you do NOT know the House or Senate District or names of your Legislators
Access the NC General Assembly website at http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/
- Click on the word "Representation" in the upper left corner of the page.
- Once you have reached the North Carolina Representation page, click on the first menu choice, Representation.
- Scroll down to the "Representation by ZIP code" section. Enter your 9-digit zip code in the white
box and click on the "Go!" button. If you don not know your 9-digit zip code, then click on the
"USPS ZIP+4 Code Look-Up Engine" bar. Enter your street address in the given form to obtain
your
9-digit zip code. It is important that you use the 9-digit zip code from your street
address rather than your P.O. Box when determining your district.
- Once you have entered your 9-digit zip code and clicked the "Go!" button, you will reach the ZIP
Code Search Results Page. Here, your State House and State Senate districts will be displayed.
Click on the "Representative" link beside each district to view your Representative's and Senator’s
name and contact information.
Representative Marvin W. Lucas – Chairman (D) – Cumberland County – Spring Lake, NC
Representative Pryor Gibson - Vice Chairman (D) - Anson and Union County – Wadesboro, NC
Representative W. Robert Grady – Vice Chairman (R) – Onslow County – Jacksonville, NC
Representative Joe Boylan (R) – Moore County – Pinehurst, NC
Representative Larry R. Brown (R) – Davidson and Forsyth County – Kernersville, NC
Representative Lorene Coates (D) – Rowan County – Salisbury, NC
Representative Nelson Cole (D) – Rockingham County – Reidsville, NC
Representative N. Leo Daughtry (R) – Johnston County – Smithfield, NC
Representative Bruce Goforth (D) – Buncombe County – Asheville, NC
Representative Earl Jones (D) – Guilford County – Greensboro, NC
Representative David R. Lewis (R) – Harnett County – Dunn, NC
Representative Wm. C. “Bill” McGee (R) – Forsyth County – Clemmons, NC
Representative Drew Saunders (D) – Mecklenburg County – Huntersville, NC
Representative Edgar V. Starnes (R) – Caldwell County – Hickory, NC
Representative Russell E. Tucker (D) – Duplin and Onslow County – Pink Hill, NC
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