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E-mailing a legislator? Keep it local, personal They can get dozens a day; attention is selective By PETER WONG SALEM -- When John Watt set up an address to receive electronic mail several years ago, he was considered a novelty at the Capitol. E-mail them E-mail addresses for Southern Oregon legislators: SENATE Sen. Lenn Hannon, R-Ashland: [email protected] Senate President Brady Adams, R-Grants Pass: [email protected] Sen. Bill Fisher, R-Roseburg: [email protected] HOUSE Rep. Rob Patridge, R-Medford: [email protected] Rep. Jason Atkinson, R-Jacksonville: [email protected] Rep. Judy Uherbelau, D-Ashland: [email protected] Rep. Susan Morgan, R-Myrtle Creek: [email protected] Rep. Carl Wilson, R-Grants Pass: [email protected] Official e-mail address for a legislator: Last name of representative or senator, followed by dot and "rep" or "sen," followed by @state.or.us "I had to remind my staff almost daily to download the e-mail," said Watt, a former state representative from Medford and now a lobbyist for Southern Oregon businesses. But Watt, who left office in January after eight years, was just ahead of his time. This session, the Legislature has furnished each of its 90 members with at least one computer, and all legislators have official e-mail addresses. The addresses will be valid during their entire terms, even when legislators are back home in their districts. Rep. Judy Uherbelau, a Democrat from Ashland whose district covers the east half of Jackson County, said the increased use of e-mail has added to her already heavy volume of letters and telephone calls. She said District 52 constituents are unusually outspoken about legislative matters. "I advise people that the best way for people to make a good impression is for them to write a thoughtful and personal letter or e-mail message that explains why a bill or an issue is important to them," said Uherbelau, who is in her fifth year. "People do it a lot now, and when I get those kind of letters, it takes longer to respond and generates more work for me. But I still think it's valuable to do it." Southern Oregon legislators and staffs say they often receive two dozen or more e-mail messages, some several pages long, every day. Uherbelau said she responds personally to each letter writer or e-mail sender if she knows that person is from Jackson County. Like other legislators, Uherbelau said she pays less attention to e-mail if it appears to be a mass message directed to all 90 legislators, or if the writer comes from outside the region. "It provides more access to legislators, but the volume also creates a bigger need for staff," said Mary Patridge, who works for her husband, Rep. Rob Patridge, R-Medford. She said about 60 percent of Rob Patridge's e-mail appears to be directed to him and the other 40 percent to legislators generally. Mathias Rudisill, legislative assistant to Rep. Jason Atkinson, R-Jacksonville, said mass-generated e-mail messages are filed by subject. But they don't get the same attention as those that are clearly individual and local. He said the best ways to draw his boss's attention to an e-mail message are to make sure it's directed to Atkinson and to leave a street address. (Some aides suggest including telephone numbers as well as a street or post office-box addresses.) He said Atkinson will dictate some replies to him, but write or call others directly. "We get so much of it that it's amazing," Rudisill said, referring to a recent day when he spent 60 to 90 minutes retrieving e-mail. "I think it gives people an opportunity to voice their opinions, but sometimes they get lost in the background noise of the volume of usage." He said Atkinson most values handwritten letters and personal appearances. Dixie Hannon, wife of Republican Sen. Lenn Hannon of Ashland and his aide during sessions, said she was kept busy recently when students from an Eagle Point High School class sent individual e-mail messages. She said her attitudes toward e-mail are influenced by her recent failed attempts to send an e-mail message to friends in Japan. "I am not a lover of computers," she said. "But obviously, a lot of people have computers that are hooked up -- and I know they use them." Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA