Firms Team Up on Eminent Domain

The Georgia Association of REALTORS® has hired the team of Bigelow Advertising and Hayslett Group Strategic Communications to launch a statewide campaign to push for eminent domain legislation. The REALTOR’s campaign seeks to re-establish private property rights for Georgians following the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Kelo v. New London.

The team has created a multi-faceted campaign that incorporates traditional advertising, media relations, public affairs work and grassroots involvement.

“The Georgia Association of REALTORS is very appreciative of the work this team has delivered,” said Bob Hamilton, GAR’s chief executive officer. “Bigelow and Hayslett Group have developed a comprehensive campaign that gets to the heart of the issue on eminent domain and should serve us well as we move toward being a part of the solution during the next General Assembly.”

Bigelow Advertising designed a look and feel that is carried throughout the campaign’s specially designed website, yard signage, bumper stickers and collateral. The agency also developed a radio campaign that will run in markets across the state.

Hayslett Group officially launched the campaign with a press conference held at the Georgia state capitol in October. A broad media relations effort will extend the reach of the story throughout the length of the campaign, which is expected to run through the next Georgia General Assembly.

Together, the two agencies developed the structure and content for the campaign’s website, www.protectGAprivateproperty.com. The site serves as a hub for the mobilization of a concerted grassroots campaign. With the Association’s 36,000 members across the state, the website operates as a repository for vital information on the issue and provides tools by which citizens can deliver e-mail messages to their legislators requesting support for enacting legislation to curb eminent domain abuse.

“We are very pleased to be working with the Georgia Association of REALTORS,” said Tom Bigelow, president of Bigelow Advertising. “This campaign allows us to develop a quality creative effort that also works toward resolving a very real concern; that being the need to create legislation designed to curb eminent domain abuse.”

Charlie Hayslett, president of Hayslett Group added, “Our firm prides itself on our ability to help groups such as the Georgian Association of REALTORS shape policy for the betterment of the public. The work we are able to do on this campaign should help restore the concept of private property rights for Georgians.”