The AIA is launching DesignVote08, a major new initiative to help raise the profile of architecture in the 2008 election.
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DesignVote08 is the AIA's first-ever nonpartisan program to help its members get involved in the campaigns for president and the U.S. Senate. Reflecting the increased clout that architects have in the political process, and supporting the AIA's strategic goal of promoting citizen architects and civic engagement, DesignVote08 will empower AIA members and components to:
- Place the AIA's public policies and issues before the presidential candidates and political parties
- Organize and cosponsor candidate forums in their home states
- Raise the AIA's visibility at the Democratic and Republican National Conventions in the summer of 2008
- Track where the candidates stand on key AIA issues
- Volunteer for presidential and Senate campaigns.
Through a dedicated Web site and other tools, DesignVote08 will give AIA members up-to-the-minute information on how they can engage in the presidential and key Senate races. The Web site will also offer voter registration information, links to candidates' Web sites, and tips on getting active in the election.
Earlier this month, the AIA launched one of the first initiatives under DesignVote08 by sending a 15-question survey to all the Democratic and Republican candidates for president. The questionnaire asks the candidates to identify where they stand on top AIA priorities. The AIA will place the responses to these questions online at the end of December.
Mickey Jacob, AIA, will serve as the chair of DesignVote08. Jacob, who completes his four-year tenure as ArchiPAC chair at the end of 2007 and is an AIA director from the Florida-Caribbean region, says he is excited about the opportunity that the coming campaign holds for architects: "The '08 election will be one of the most hotly contested in years. With Democrats holding a 51-49 majority in the U.S. Senate, the stakes in this election are extremely high. This initiative creates a terrific chance for the AIA and our 80,000-plus members to play an active role raising the profile of our issues in the coming debate."
Paul Mendelsohn, vice president for Government and Community Relations, says DesignVote08 is a natural outgrowth of the AIA's government advocacy efforts. "With all the successes we've had the last few years in advocating for sustainability, community development, regulatory reform, and other issues before Congress and the White House, it only makes sense to take this message to the candidates before they are elected to office."
Tell us ways that architects can get involved in politics and campaigns, and why you think it is important for architects to be involved in the decision-making and law-making processes.