Outer Banks Conservationists with Capstrat

Overview

In 2000, Congress passed The Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act to transfer the federal government’s ownership of 300 lighthouses no longer needed by the Coast Guard.

Lighthouses are historic landmarks and symbols of heritage. In Currituck County, NC, a nonprofit conservation group waged a two-year battle for ownership of the Currituck Beach Lighthouse with the Currituck County government.

Capstrat supported the nonprofit Outer Banks Conservationists (OBC) effort with a broad-based grassroots and lobbying initiative. The competition – the Currituck County government – used its political connections and a local congressman’s clout to attempt to influence the ownership decision.

The Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act gave no advantage to nonprofit or government groups. But OBC did have the advantage of having raised more than $1.5 million over 20 years to restore and operate the lighthouse.

Objectives

To combat the county’s political clout, Capstrat recommended that OBC launch a multifaceted communications campaign to demonstrate to the public and the Lighthouse Act decision-makers the OBC’s qualifications and dedication in its lighthouse stewardship.

Tactics

The campaign included:

  • Online grassroots coalition building
  • Direct mail postcards targeting Congress and federal lighthouse decision-makers
  • Direct Advocacy with Congress and the Administration
  • Local and national media relations

Poll

Currituck County residents were polled to gauge interest in OBC’s ownership.

Web site

An online petition was created allowing lighthouse advocates to email their OBC support to Congress and the US Secretary of the Interior – the ultimate decision-makers.

Postcards

Pre-addressed postcards to Congress, the NC Governor and the US Secretary of the Interior with a pro-OBC message were left at the lighthouse entrance for the 80,000 annual visitors to sign and mail.

Direct Advocacy

Capstrat visited congressional offices in Washington to raise awareness of issues and responsibilities under the Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act.

Results

  • In June 2003, despite a furious attempt by the local congressman, the lighthouse ownership was granted to the OBC.
  • Capstrat successfully halted an attempt to transfer lighthouse ownership to the county by a “backdoor” method by the local Congressman in an appropriations bill.
  • Public support and awareness generated by the campaign produced significant media coverage. In an evaluation of the OBC’s and county’s applications by the US Park Service, the OBC scored 97 compared to Currituck County’s 33, out of 100 possible points.

Capstrat’s aggressive campaign kept the process fair.