This document summarizes information for groundwater conservation districts (GCDs) about communicating with elected officials. It identifies important elected officials at the state, county, city, and special district levels. It provides websites to help identify legislators. The document recommends that GCDs introduce themselves to officials through email and meetings, invite officials to GCD meetings, and attend other governmental meetings. GCDs should share concise background information, newsletters, annual reports, and legislative priorities with officials. Regular communication helps address the "fear of the unknown" and build trust between GCDs and elected representatives.

1. ©Lloyd Gosselink Rochelle & Townsend, P.C.
Presented by:
Ty Embrey
tembrey@lglawfirm.com
(512) 322-5829
816 Congress Avenue
Suite 1900
Austin, Texas 78701
(512) 322-5800
(512) 472-0532 Fax
www.lglawfirm.com
Getting to Know Your Elected
Officials
TAGD Regular Business Meeting
May 17, 2022

2. ©Lloyd Gosselink Rochelle & Townsend, P.C.
Identifying the Elected Officials
Important to Your GCD
• Texas Legislature
- State Senator
- State Representative
• Websites to help you identify your state legislators
– Official website of Texas Legislature – www.capitol.texas.gov
– Who represents me? - wrm.capitol.texas.gov/home
– Who represents me after redistricting? –
https://apps.texastribune.org/features/2021/texas-redistricting-map/

3. ©Lloyd Gosselink Rochelle & Townsend, P.C.
Identifying the Elected Officials
Important to Your GCD
• County Officials
– County Judge(s)
– County Commissioners
• City Officials
– Mayor(s)
– City Council Members
– Non-Elected Officials
• City Manager
• Director of Utilities/Public Works

4. ©Lloyd Gosselink Rochelle & Townsend, P.C.
Identifying the Elected Officials
Important to Your GCD
• Public Water Suppliers
– Water Supply Corporations (WSCs)
– Special Purpose Districts
• Special Utility Districts (SUDs)
• Municipal Utility Districts (MUDs)
• Fresh Water Supply Districts (FWSDs)
• Water Control and Improvement Districts (WCIDs)
– Home Owners Associations (HOAs)

5. ©Lloyd Gosselink Rochelle & Townsend, P.C.
How Should the GCD Communicate
with Elected Officials?
• Introductory email and follow-up phone call
– Provide contact information
– Provide picture if appropriate
– GCD Background Information
• Personal Meetings
– In GCD office and/or official’s office
– Research legislator before meeting, including official’s
biography
– Meetings with key staff of officials

6. ©Lloyd Gosselink Rochelle & Townsend, P.C.
How Should the GCD Communicate with
Elected Officials?
• Invite officials to attend GCD Board Meetings
• Attend Governmental Body Meetings
– Request to placed on meeting agenda to introduce
yourself and GCD and to provide a brief summary of
GCD activities

7. ©Lloyd Gosselink Rochelle & Townsend, P.C.
What Information Should the GCD
Communicate to Elected Officials?
• Contact Information / Picture
• GCD-Specific Background Information
– No more than two (2) pages in length
– Identify Board of Directors and Key Staff
– Purpose of GCDs
– Number of wells are located within the GCD
– Number of registered and permitted wells by GCD
– GCD-specific initiatives (such as educational efforts) or issues

8. ©Lloyd Gosselink Rochelle & Townsend, P.C.
What Information Should the GCD
Communicate to Elected Officials?
• GCD Newsletter
• GCD Annual Report
• Board Meeting Agendas
• Legislative Issues of Importance to TAGD and
GCDs

9. ©Lloyd Gosselink Rochelle & Townsend, P.C.

10. ©Lloyd Gosselink Rochelle & Townsend, P.C.
Why Communication with Elected
Officials Is Important
• “Fear of the Unknown”
• Easy to criticize someone you don’t know
• Turnover does occur with Elected Officials and GCDs
• Need to build relationship and trust before major issues
occur
• At Texas Legislature, legislators have limited time during
Regular Sessions so there is a need to create trust
during legislative interim period

11. ©Lloyd Gosselink Rochelle & Townsend, P.C.
GCD Challenge: Public Perception
Conservation, preservation,
protection, recharging and
prevention of waste of
groundwater
Rights of Landowners and
the highest practicable level
of groundwater production

12. ©Lloyd Gosselink Rochelle & Townsend, P.C.
Questions?
• Any questions?
• Thank you.