As everyone with a television, radio, phone, or computer is all too aware, midterm elections are happening around the country next Tuesday. In this midterm election, voters will choose all 435 members of the U.S. House of Representatives, 35 senators, 36 governors, and countless state and local officials. These individuals and the policies they put forward impact your industry, your community, and our shared economy. Please be sure to make your voice heard.

The Forest Resources Association does not endorse individual candidates for office, or either political party. Instead, FRA works with our members to identify issues important to the success of the forest industry supply chain and supports policies that promote responsible forest management, safe and efficient workplaces, and increased economic opportunities.

Forestry policies rarely top voters’ minds, but this year headline-grabbing issues are affecting our industry, for example, the cost of diesel, as well as interest rates and their impact on housing starts.

When considering your vote – for any office from statehouse officials to governor to senator – ask yourself some questions:

• Does this candidate have a realistic sense of how business works, and how a large industry (like forest products) is made up of many compatible and competing businesses, each with their own needs but a shared goal?
• Is this individual curious and looking to learn more about any given issue? It is important for a candidate to have clear values that they can articulate, but it is as important that they be willing to learn the nuance of any particular issue or policy and be willing to work toward a solution that balances constituent needs.
• Is this individual – or their staff – accessible? It would be great if candidates agreed with every position you hold, but unless you are running for office yourself, that is a wildly unrealistic goal. It’s not – however – unrealistic to think that you should get a chance to make your voice heard – and that your concerns are taken seriously. This is easier to judge for incumbents, but ask yourself:
  • If you attended an FRA Fly-In in the past, did this individual meet with our members? Did their core staff? Was the discussion more than superficial?
  • If you have reached out on an issue, was that communication welcomed? Was an opposing viewpoint met with hostility, or was it welcomed as an idea worthy of thought and consideration?
• Does this person understand the value of working lands and the manufacturing base that supports our industry? Do they value rural communities, the heart of our industry, and seek policies that help those communities become prosperous, stable, and places people want to live?
• Are there realistic policies they support that seek to build the workforce of tomorrow, encourage investment in manufacturing, and support the responsible use of natural resources?

Of course, it is up to you to decide what issues – and what qualities – are important as you select which candidates to vote for. What’s important is that you make your voice heard, and the way to do that is to vote on Tuesday, November 3. This year, more than ever, voter turnout will decide who controls the Senate and House.

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