WC took on a challenging campaign in Cobb County, Georgia. Our client was Citizens for Cobb, a coalition of concerned citizens, business and community leaders. The group was seeking approval of a one cent increase in the local sales tax to pay for much needed road improvements, relief from traffic congestion, and upgrades to the 911 system.

Winning approval of even a modest tax increase tied to a specific need is very difficult – especially in the heavily Republican county that was once represented by Newt Gingrich, and especially at a time when gas prices were skyrocketing. Winning Connections identified supporters and persuadable voters, contacting over 50,000 voters with eight targeted phone and e-mail messages over a three-week period. When turnout was light on Election Day, we made 12,000 additional calls to get out the vote. The effort paid off: Cobb County citizens approved the special sales tax, called SPLOST, by 117 votes.

Citizens for Cobb’s campaign manager Billy Linville said, “Simply put, without Winning Connections, the Cobb County SPLOST would not have passed. They were creative, hard working and effective. I don’t ever want to manage a campaign without them.”