When the fire district needs a yes.
People support their firefighters and paramedics. A yes campaign turns that into votes in an election most residents do not know is happening.
How do you pass an ESD election in Texas?
Make it local and concrete: what a new station or crew changes for response times in each part of the district, who pays a sales tax (including shoppers from outside the district), and the crews themselves as messengers. Then turn out supporters, because ESD elections are often decided by a small number of voters. URSA runs these campaigns for the political committees that support ESDs.
What Moves ESD Yes Voters
Response times, by neighborhood
How long help takes to reach each subdivision now, and what a new station or crew would change. Different on every side of the district. See micro-targeting.
Who pays
A sales tax is paid by everyone who shops in the district, including visitors and people passing through, not only property owners.
The crews, on camera
Firefighters and paramedics are the most trusted messengers a campaign can have. Real training and real equipment. See video production.
Growth
New rooftops mean new calls. Residents in fast growing districts already see it.
The Yes Campaign Playbook
Separate the work
The ESD's factual voter education and the committee's advocacy are planned, approved and paid for separately.
Draw the real district
ESD lines rarely match anything else. We build them from county parcel data and match every voter inside.
Find the likely voters
Vote history for May and November local elections. In a small electorate, that list is short.
Put crews on screen
Streaming TV and social with real crews, to likely voters inside the lines only.
Turn out supporters
P2P persuasion scripts and a daily early vote scrub.
ESD Work
Harris County Emergency Service District, Streaming TV
Example Emergency Service District public relations campaign.
Harris County Emergency Service District, Streaming TV
Example Emergency Service District public relations campaign.
Emergency Service District (ESD), Texas Sales Tax Explained
This video explains how Texas State Sales Tax works and its impact on local government.
Emergency Service District (ESD), EMILY SONAR TRAINING
Fort Bend County ESD4 is now fully trained and operational with the EMILY Rescue Device, joining the ranks of public safety agencies around the globe using this cutting-edge technology!
What helps an ESD sales tax election pass?
Showing residents what it changes for response times where they live, explaining that shoppers from outside the district help pay a sales tax, using firefighters and paramedics as messengers, and turning out supporters in what is usually a low turnout election.
Can firefighters campaign for an ESD election?
Employees may participate as private citizens on their own time without using public resources. The ESD itself cannot spend public funds on advocacy. Committees and employees should get legal guidance on the specifics.
How many votes does an ESD election take?
A simple majority of those voting inside the district. Because turnout is often low, the total can be small, which is why supporter turnout matters so much.
Keep reading.
- ESD Tax ElectionsURSA runs voter education for Texas Emergency Services Districts and advocacy campaigns for the PACs that support them, on ESD sales tax, tax rate and creation elections. Targeted, compliant and built on real data.
- Defeating an ESD ElectionThe URSA playbook for committees opposing a Texas Emergency Services District tax rate or sales tax proposal: the rate and the receipt, the district's budget, alternatives, and tax-sensitive turnout.
- PACs and Issue CampaignsURSA runs advocacy campaigns for political committees supporting or opposing ESD, CAD, school bond and tax rate propositions: targeting, creative, media and turnout, with disclosures on every piece.
Your victory starts here.
Tell us where you are running or what is on your ballot. We will show you who decides it, what moves them, and what it costs to reach them.
Schedule a Consultation