While you are identifying the potential supporters for the districting project, be sure to identify potential opponents as well. When identifying opponents, however, it is essential to look for those opponents who are community opinion leaders or who represent organized groups. Community leaders who are most likely to oppose a districting effort are those who oppose taxes and tax-supported services in general. They may do this out of concern about their own taxes or they may oppose taxes on principle.
Whether you should contact opinion leaders who you believe will oppose the districting effort at this point in the process is a political decision that will depend to a large extent on what you know about the person and the community. In some cases, an opinion leader may become less opposed to a project if contacted. He or she may see the contact as a sign of respect, and thus a failure to contact may be a sign of disrespect. On the other hand, if you contact people who tell you that they oppose the project and you
continue to work on it, they may see this as a sign that you disregarded their opinion.
Contacting opponents may also give them more time to organize against a districting effort. Then again, some people who you think will oppose the effort may surprise you. Public libraries carry a tremendous amount of good will in a democracy. People who do not support other forms of tax-supported services often are very favorable to public libraries.
If you decide to discuss the districting project with opinion leaders who you expect to oppose the effort, you can use the same process as for interviewing those who you expect to be supportive or neutral. Remember that you are simply seeking information. Do not argue with those who say they are opposed to a library district but offer to give them more information if they wish it.
If you find that the opposition to the project is weak, this is an indication that the project is probably viable, and you will probably want to proceed.