Learning Objectives: describe the steps the presenter took to win his race and the impact his election has had on tobacco control advocacy in Rhode Island
Abstract:
Problem/Objective:
In his work as a tobacco control advocate, the presenter observed that he and other tobacco control advocates faced many challenges to their work in the legislature. Always on the outside, looking in, it was difficult, sometimes impossible, to match the influence of highly paid tobacco industry lobbyists.
Methods:
The presenter is a Steering Committee member of the Campaign for a Healthy Rhode Island (CHRI), a SmokeLess States coalition of tobacco control and health care
access advocates. He decided that if he could not change the minds of legislators, then he should work to change at least one of the bodies by becoming a member of the legislature. He ran for State Representative in the summer of 2002. Facing opponents in both the primary and the general election, he won and was sworn in on January 7, 2003.
Results:
The presenter has had greater ability to educate fellow legislators on the importance and legitimacy of tobacco control issues. He has also been able to learn about and educate fellow advocates from an inside perspective on the inside legislative process. He has also been successfully dealing with the complications of being an advocate at the same time as being a public servant.
Conclusions:
By serving as member of the state legislature, tobacco control advocates can have enormous impact in their work as tobacco control advocates.
Back to Poster Session
Back to Evaluation and Surveillance
Back to The 2003 National Conference on Tobacco or Health (December 10-12, 2003)