About

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As an elected official it is no secret that you are short on time. When juggling a hundred different things, that are ALL important, how can you find time to let the people at home know that you care? Constituent Connect (CC) was founded to help you balance your demanding schedule while giving your constituents the attention they deserve!

CC offers an array of services that will allow you to do the things you have always wanted, but never had the time!  With a basic package for $5000 annually, you will receive services that are a must have.  Or for the same price, you can build the perfect package, choosing 3 services, that suit your needs. Want more? Add to your services with our ala carte menu options.

The CC Difference

Constituent Connect is much different than any other communications provider in that our services target individuals personally. Anyone can send out a mass email, but few understand the importance of that personal touch needed to make a lasting impression.

…people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.

     ― Maya Angelou

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Meet Jacqueline

The short version…

• Grew up in politics
• Worked on various campaigns since childhood
• Political Science Major- University of Alabama
• Former GOP 72 Hour Grassroots Task Force
• Former Lobbyist
• Loves to write about issues in “real people” terms.

The long version…

Thank you for taking the time to visit our site! Now, let me tell you why I love what I do.

I never personally sought out a career in “politics.” Truth be known, I did everything in my power to stay out of the political scene. Politics, however, would always find me.  You see,  I come from a long line of politicians. Four generations to be exact. My great grandfather served as a House member for a number of years. My grandfather served our great state as the 4th sitting Lt. Governor and my Uncle eventually ran for Congress. Growing up, I was surrounded by politics. And being surrounded by politics meant that I was constantly surrounded by politicians. I knew them to be lovely people; hardworking, trying to get through the day, do what’s right by the folks they served-  lovely people.

During the summer of my 3rd grade year, I got my first political gig campaigning for Rep. Ward Edwards. My job was to walk from business to business around our small town and ask the owners to vote for Mr. Ward. Now mind you, Rep. Edwards had been in office for nearly 30 years, so I highly doubt that a 9 year old asking for a vote was effective. But at the time,  I didn’t know any better and I felt like I was making a difference. It was not until I was older that I began to fully comprehend the side of politics I had yet to see. My warm affection for our family friends would make my childhood a bit difficult when I began to understand the mean side of politics. I was the child that would start crying when I read horrible things about Mr. Zell or Mr. Pierre in the paper. It occurred to me at that young age, if people just knew them the way my family did, surely they wouldn’t write such terrible things! With the realization that politics could be really mean, my political career would come to an abrupt end. Or so I thought…

When the time came for me to declare my major at the University of Alabama (don’t hold that against me), I was adamant that I did NOT want to major in Political Science. Fast forward 5 majors and 3 years later and there I sat- a Political Science major. The truth is, it just came easy. Second nature almost. And although it came easy to me, I had no political aspirations beyond college. However, upon graduation and desperate for gainful employment, I was hired by the GOP to work on their grassroots efforts. It was a miserable existence of  stapling signs, knocking on doors, and standing in the rain holding political banners. I hated it. Getting yelled at by a person for knocking on their door, during the Georgia game, with a candidate they did not support-  was not my idea of an ideal Saturday. After the election cycle was over, I vowed NEVER EVER would I work in politics. And that promise held true for a few years until, politics would find me…. again.

I was working as a Membership / Foundation Director for an association when one day my boss asked if I would like to be a lobbyist. With apprehension, I agreed. Once again, I was thrown into the political scene. I have to say, I wasn’t a great lobbyist. My poker face was less than desirable and I said exactly what I was thinking. GREAT for consulting! BAD for lobbying! I also didn’t understand the concept of smile at everyone and trust no one. Later I would realize the reason for that mentality- another mean side of politics. While lobbying was not my forte,  it did help me find my niche.  I soon discovered, my favorite thing to do in the political arena was to “connect people”.

It was like being a political matchmaker- This member would LOVE this official and they will get along famously! I would get such a rush when a good match was made and the two parties would walk into the sunset together with a new found friend. While lobbying I also discovered in working so closely to elected officials, that my childhood views about politicians were simply reinforced- that for the most part, they were hardworking, just trying to get through the day, do what’s right for the folks they serve- lovely people.

So here is what I have learned over the course of my political career. I don’t particularly care for the grime of campaign work. I am not keen on lobbying and I really don’t think I will ever understand that for some reason, during session, the Capitol brings out every mean bone in one’s body. And, while it’s true that I eventually learned the game of politics, I really hated playing it. So if I dislike politics so much then why am I here, making my life in politics?  The answer is simple. Because, despite all of the bad, there is still a lot of good.

I enjoy hearing the issues. I enjoy thoughtful policy debate and new ideas. I enjoy educating regular–everyday people on the political process. I get giddy when a legislative compromise is made and two parties meet in the middle. I love writing about issues in common folk terms so that everyone can understand. I like political matchmaking. I find delight in someone who knows how to deliver a powerful and compelling speech and even more delighted, when I take part in writing that speech. I love seeing how happy a constituent gets when they  realize their elected official is actually listening to them.  In short-  I like the good side of politics.

I truly believe that people, yourself included, jump into the thankless job as an elected official with great intentions. You want to serve the people and community you love. You want to make a difference, make it better. You walked into the Capitol your first day and thought-  I am here and I will make a change. However, after years of battling the mean side of politics, you’re so drained that you may even question at times, why you chose this path in the first place? I want to help you remember the good side. The excited, hopeful, I’m here for the right reasons side; the side that comforts people you serve because they know that you are doing your best and working hard; the side that in a subtle way, makes everything ok, because they know they have a strong leader looking out for their interests. THIS is the side I want you to show the people you serve!

All in all, I want your constituents to see you the way that I grew up seeing Mr. Zell and Mr. Pierre– Hardworking, just trying to get through the day and do what’s right by the folks they serve. And maybe, just maybe, somewhere along the way you will be reminded of why you chose this path. Or like me, perhaps you’ll discover that you didn’t choose this path at all- It, in fact, chose you.

While it is undeniable that my adult experiences within the political arena have slightly altered my idealistic childhood views, one thing has remained firmly in tact. I still believe, that for the most part…politicians…are lovely people.