Advocation Inc.

"It just gets interesting when they say 'No'."
- Donald K. Brown, Founder, Advocation, Inc.

As your advocate in Sacramento, Advocation will commit extensive time and resources to be your eyes, ears and voice in state government.

In order to achieve a successful legislative program for each Client, it is essential that we forge a true partnership together. To achieve this partnership, Advocation does the following:

Holds periodic meetings with key Client staff. These meetings provide detailed briefings of critical policy issues and strategies. These meetings help us to develop and refine a clear understanding of the Client's goals and needs in Sacramento.
Makes continuing daily contacts on key issues with Legislators and their staffs to help implement timely strategic action by Advocation and to ensure that we can achieve our mutual goals.
Monitors state agencies, boards and commissions by reviewing mailings for regulatory announcements on an ongoing basis.
Establishes coalitions with organizations that share the Client's position.
Reviews the Client's legislative work program to provide Advocation with policy direction on issues of major concern.

Advocation has developed a reputation for rescuing Clients at the proverbial "11th hour." This is a great source of pride for Advocation and reflects the strength of its lobbying team. The following factors contribute to Advocation's high success rate on behalf of its Clients, even when we enter the battle at that 11th hour.

Demonstrated Knowledge of State Law and Regulations

The diversity of Advocation's Client base has required its staff to actively lobby every policy committee of the Legislature. This has provided Advocation's lobbyists with the big picture in Sacramento and has required them to develop working knowledge of state law.

Length of Service as Legislative Lobbyists

Advocation's team leader, Charles Cole, first registered as a lobbyist in 1975. Celeste Heritage and Wes Lujan have participated in lobbying efforts their entire professional lives. Collectively, Advocation has several decades of practical lobbying experience with the California State Legislature, numerous governors and administration officials.

Close Working Relationships with Legislators

Advocation has worked closely and effectively with Members of the Senate and Assembly. In many cases our relationships pre-date individuals' elections, so we are able to begin promoting our Clients' interests as soon as a new session convenes. The Advocation team also has working relationships with the key Senate and Assembly Committees.

Decisions in Sacramento are not made in a vacuum. They are influenced by the media coverage of an issue and the perception of political controversy and exposure for a legislator who supports or opposes a particular position. Advocation works to minimize controversy and establish the best possible working relationship between our Client and the Legislature.

We keep abreast of all the winds of change in the political/legislative process and remain highly adaptable to all scenarios. Our team brings a wide variety of experience, education and long-standing, proven adaptability to the challenges we undertake on behalf of our Clients.

Demonstrated Commitment to Win for Our Clients

Advocation takes great pride in delivering victories for our Clients and has a reputation for finding creative compromises, which result in win-win solutions for the Clients and other parties concerned. Advocation has been very successful in fashioning solutions to political problems, which result in positive public policy solutions for all parties concerned.

We are committed to using all resources necessary to win for our Clients. We continue to maintain the highest degree of interaction on a variety of issues with all Legislators.

Strategic Location

Advocation's offices are located at 1121 L Street, Suite 610 in Sacramento. This location, right across the street from the Capitol, is ideal for a lobbying firm and its Clients.

We have a full-time support staff available to assist our Clients at any time during the workday, and our lobbyists are available 24 hours a day, every day of the year, by telephone.

One conference room and guest office are available for use by our Clients. These facilities have speakerphones, fax machines and live telephone and radio coverage for all legislative hearing rooms.