• Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

League of Women Voters of Manatee County

  • Home
  • About
    • League Mission and Principles
    • History
    • Board Members
    • Committees and Action Teams
  • Advocacy
    • Where We Stand
    • Citizen Advocacy Information
    • Speaker’s Bureau
    • Videos
    • Training
    • Reproductive Rights
    • Unite and Rise 8.5
  • Voting Info
    • Voter’s Information
    • Election Information
    • Election Videos
    • Running for Local Office Workshop
  • Young Adults
    • New College of Florida
    • State College of Florida
  • Calendar
  • Membership
  • Donate

Guide to Making Public Comments

Your elected officials work for you. Let them know what you think.

Watch the video of the LWVMC Public Comment Training, held on July 24, 2023.

Advocating for an issue before government representatives or School Board members can be daunting. We are here to help with our best tips and  to assist you.

The purpose of this guide is to take the mystery out of the advocacy process, and give you the tools to help you feel confident sharing your viewpoint publicly with decision-makers in government and/or school boards.

Engaging with your elected representatives is not difficult, and they appreciate hearing your point of view. Remember, without citizen engagement, democracy dies. 

Your efforts to advocate for your point of view are encouraged and above all, well worth your time. 

Use the bulleted list of topics below to navigate to the issues that are most relevant for you. It boils down to five basic questions: Who, What, Why, When and How?

  • WHAT is the topic you care about and WHAT makes An Effective Public Comment? including:
    • Understand your topic, and the opposing point of view                  
    • What is  a persuasive message that will resonate with the particular audience you are addressing?
    • TEMPLATE for public comment letter
    • Examples of well worded public comments
  • WHY are you speaking? including:
    • To represent yourself as a private citizen expressing your personal opinions?
    • Or, as a member of a volunteer or professional organization (The League, Advocacy group, etc.)?
  • Answers to the next three questions can found by click on the links in the table below.
    • WHO do you want to speak to and at what level of government?
    • WHEN do you want to advocate?
    • HOW do you make your public comment?     

You’ll find information on: Communicating options (email, in person public comment at a meeting vs. written on the record), and setting up in-person meetings), Deadlines for written submission, Word count requirements, Time limits for in-person public comment, The types of agenda items and what you need to know about them (agenda item; future agenda item; etc.)

LevelLink directLink to
WHO, WHEN, HOW GUIDE
LocalManatee Board of CommissionersHow to communicate with Manatee Board of County Commissioners
LocalSchool Board of Manatee CountyHow to communicate with Manatee County School Board Members
LocalNewspapers – Letter to the Editor
Bradenton Times
Bradenton Herald
Sarasota Herald Tribune
Your Observer
How and When to write a Letter to the Editor
LocalCity Councils
Manatee County has 6 major cities, each with an elected municipal government and a Mayor or Town Manager.  Contact the city through their individual city websites to learn about elected officials, meeting dates  and other information.
o   Anna Maria: cityofannamaria.com
o   Bradenton: cityofbradenton.com
o   Bradenton Beach: cityofbradentonbeach.com
o   Holmes Beach: holmesbeachfl.org
o   Palmetto: palmettofl.org
o   Town of Longboat Key: longboatkey.org
Content coming soon!
State & NationalFlorida House of Representatives
The Florida Senate
Florida Executive Office of the Governor
Florida’s Federal Congressional delegation in the House and Senate
Content coming soon!

Footer

Contact Us

LWV Manatee
P.O. Box 545
Bradenton, FL 34206
Telephone: (941) 744-9692
Email: info@lwvmanatee.org

Social Media

Facebook
Facebook
fb-share-icon
Twitter
Visit Us
Follow Me
Post on X

Important Links

  • League of Women Voters of the US
  • League of Women Voters of Florida
  • Supervisor of Elections of Manatee County

Copyright © 2025 · League of Women Voters of Manatee County