As NC prepares for the next legislative session, we are endeavoring to meet all of the candidates for state legislature. All 47 of them!  We have chosen an informal meeting setting, an interview if you will. The primary reason is to get to know each other. We need to know their philosophies and policies. How do they view livestock production? Are they aware of the size and scope of Nebraska’s beef industry? A mailed survey could easily discover these answers, but it would not reveal their emotional tie to the issue nor their depth of knowledge. We need to read their eyes.

As of the end of June, we had met with almost half of the candidates. The meetings have been quite interesting. If I didn’t know better, I would say that based upon desire, the Appropriations Committee will have 30-plus members. Of course that isn’t possible. Most candidates relay their desire to sit on committees that coincide with their experience or passion. A few have already decided their first bill to be introduced. And of course, promises are shared.

Notice that I said “shared.” For us, it’s a two-way street. When NC meets with a candidate, we make a promise. Why do we do it? Crossing the line aren’t we? Making commitments that we will have to stand by? Yep.

The foundation for our success as an association lies in our integrity. If we say “yes,” then we mean yes. Simple as that.

Let’s be honest: Politics in the lobby is fast, furious and often cutthroat. NC will be fast and we can play furiously. We will not engage in cutthroat. To us, that means we will always tell the truth. That’s the promise we give the candidates. We will always tell the truth – no matter the political ramifications, immediate or long-term. You see, NC holds to the idea that telling the truth will have positive political ramifications – always. Success in the Legislature is about relationships. Long-term, positive relationships are built on integrity. We always tell the truth.

The second promise we make to each candidate is the hard one. We will come to your office with problems and hurdles, and we will always come with a proposed solution. That means we will not play the “victim” role. We will not engage in placing blame. That is the easy and lazy way. We promise to bring solutions. That tells the candidate that NC is an organization of ideas, an organization that thinks long-term, an organization that will stand up and take responsibility and accountability within our industry.

In order to accomplish this promise, we must spend much time crunching the numbers and drawing the plans. It means that while we are in this eyeball deep, we intend to do more than stay afloat. We will swim.

We do not approach these candidate meetings lightly. The candidate is interviewing us just as much as we are interviewing them. That is why it is important for us to verbalize our intentions and commitments. We are building long-term relationships that will be the backbone for the ability to move NC policy through the legislature.

Kelsey is NC executive vice president. He can be reached at mkelsey@necattlemen.org.