How are officials mitigating risk, and what can we do to support them?
Over the past two years, BDI has conducted interviews with more than 150 local elected officials to gain a deeper understanding of the impact of threats and harassment on local government. These conversations have painted a concerning picture of hostility at the local level, but they have also revealed the wide array of tools officials are leveraging to respond to threats and harassment. Analyzing the variety of risk mitigation strategies surfaced throughout the interview research, this report breaks down five key response types that were consistently highlighted by officials at the frontlines of local government.
- Individual strategies: Personal behavioral changes that can be made in response to, or to be prepared for, hostility.
- Peer support: Networks with other local officials that can help to navigate the difficult experiences of hostility.
- Connections with town administrators and service providers: Community relationships with policy makers, other non-elected staff, and local law enforcement that can support threat assessment and response.
- Official procedures and community outreach approaches: Ways to leverage the resources of local government to effectively and safely engage with constituents.
- Legal and security options: Frameworks for when and how to elevate credible threats.
Overall, officials articulated a deep commitment to serve their communities and resolve conflict constructively, even in the face of threats and harassment. Focused on steps that are within their direct control, they have developed a range of creative, resilient approaches aimed at managing the symptoms of the current climate of hostility and mitigating immediate short-term risks. At the same time, officials also underscored the need for systems-wide solutions that would enable local government to move out of this hostile climate over the long term. The insights from these interviews offer guidance, lessons, and best practices for other officials navigating hostile situations, and can inform further research into curative interventions to protect local democracy and civic space going forward.