HighGround Public Affairs Consultants

There is no greater accomplishment than starting with an idea and working together to make that dream a reality.  For that concept to become a reality, more often than not, you are going to need a coalition of individuals and groups joined together to help get the job done.

HighGround specializes in coalition development and grassroots coordination. We have the ability to reach out across the state to establish support and an alliance with community figures, elected officials, and business organizations.

Building and managing a strong coalition can be the difference between the success and failure of an effort.  Not only must the members of the coalition be on the same page, but the group must also work to minimize opposition and create a process that produces a legitimate result.  That is where we come in. 

Not only does the HighGround team develop a plan, but we stick around to help mold and guide the process to make sure the plan is carried out with the desired results. 

Here is a review of some of our campaign and public affairs related coalition building projects:

Health Care

Our team was the principal public affairs and lobbying team for the legislation that authorized the creation of the new Maricopa County Hospital District on behalf of Maricopa County.  Following the successful passage of the legislation, HighGround was retained as the principal campaign consultant for the Yes on 414 Committee, which won voter approval from Maricopa County voters in November of 2003.

Transportation

For over three years, HighGround, Inc. served as the principle public affairs consultant for the Associated General Contractors, the Arizona Rock Products Association and the Arizona Business Coalition in developing the ½ cent transportation sales tax extension plan to be considered by Maricopa County voters.  The majority of the members of this team managed this issue through two legislative sessions that saw the establishment of the transportation process and the approval of the plan developed by the process.  The team moved on to manage the campaign for the passage of Proposition 400 on the November 2004 general election ballot.

Land Management/Conservation

HighGround, Inc. helped build the diverse coalition of conservation groups, elected officials and others to create the Arizona Growing Smarter Act.  The team then lobbied to successfully pass legislation and successfully managed the passage of Proposition 303, the Preserve Arizona Initiative in 1998.  This is the only public land management campaign to gain voter approval in modern Arizona history.

 Additionally, HighGround worked with the Arizona Association of Realtors to build a coalition of Realtors and the development industry throughout Arizona to successfully defeat the Sierra Club’s Proposition 202, the Growth Management Initiative in 2000.

Multi-use Stadium

HighGround, Inc. was among the first consultants hired to help create the Stadium district that ultimately led to the construction of the multi-use facility.  Following those initial stages, we worked with the Fiesta Bowl to represent their interests, including clarifying Arizona’s stadium district laws to allow the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl to host the newly created BCS National Championship Game in 2006.

Power Generation

HighGround, Inc. has a long history of working with the Salt River Project.  One significant project ensured that SRP is able to generate enough affordable electricity to meet Arizona’s growing demands.  HighGround helped SRP develop an Arizona organization, “Arizona Power Consumers,” which included the East Valley Partnership, WESTMARC, the Arizona Association of Industries and the East Valley Chamber Alliance as well as many neighbors and neighborhood groups. 

The campaign was successful in creating a positive public environment that encouraged the development of additional electrical generating capacity for Arizona consumers such as the expansion of the San Tan Generating Station in Gilbert.