In advance of the Nov. 2 elections, CUNA is stepping up itsgrassroots advocacy with what it calls a refined “partisancommunication” campaign aimed at bringing more direct involvementby CU members with candidates.

CUNA officials said its most recent success with theget-out-the-member-vote technique occurred in August in Georgiawhen it teamed up with Gwinnett FCU of Lawrenceville and GeorgiaCredit Union Affiliates for an 8,000-piece mailing to support aU.S. House candidate in a crowded primary field.

In that contest following the direct mail blitz, Republican RobWoodall was the victor for a congressional seat representing adistrict near Atlanta and now faces the Democrat, Doug Heckman, onNov. 2. Woodall is running to replace retiring Rep. John Linder,also a Republican. Woodall had been his chief of staff.

“This was the same kind of campaign we ran for Rep. Kanjorski,”said Trey Hawkins, vice president of political affairs, makingreference to a 2008 drive to support Paul Kanjorski (D. Pa.), a CUstalwart in a primary race.

Hawkins detailed that campaign as part of a talk he gave Sept.15 before the annual Legislative Forum of the Maine Credit UnionLeague in which he urged greater direct CU participation by membersthan in the past.

While online messaging is also effective in member vote-getting,CUNA has found the direct mail approach produces higher results“and is more targeted at individual households,” said Hawkins.

Asked how many other partisan campaigns might be launched orwhat CUs might be included for the Nov. 2 election, Hawkinsdeclined to discuss them, adding “they will be apparent after theelections.”

In his remarks to the Maine group, Hawkins stressed the rolethat CUs can and should have in elections.

“When elected officials equate grassroots to strength to votes,numbers matter,” he concluded.

Also at the Maine gathering held in a Freeport hotel, formerWhite House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer urged CUs to press aheadwith advocacy programs and get more involved in the politicalprocess to protect industry interests.

Fleischer, a CU member since 1983 and who served under PresidentBush from 2001 to 2003, told the crowd that Republicans have theintensity this election season to win at the polls and will behelped by Tea Party enthusiasm.

Fleischer said he believes the Tea Party energy brought to theRepublican base outweighs any splits it may be creating in theparty. As for moderates, he believes the same frustrated voters whohelped defeat Republicans nationally in the 2006 and 2008 electionswill now help Republicans defeat Democrats in 2010.

When speaking of the political environment in Maine, Fleischersaid, “The impact of the frustration with the economy and thestatus quo will not necessarily carry over to Maine. It is astate-by-state, election-by-election impact. Let's not forget, too,Maine voters can be particularly independent.”

Also at the forum, attendees heard about the election campaignsunderway by four CU directors running for seats in the Maine House.They include two incumbents: Rep. Herb Clark, vice chair, KatahdinFCU, and Rep. Michael Lajoie, vice chair, Lewiston Municipal FCU.,The other two candidates are Kenneth Fredette, director,Sebasticook Valley FCU and John Picciotti, chairman, KSW FCU.

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