Two tips for winning in City Hall (and, in life?)
First and foremost, write a balanced issue.
This may seem like a paradox. Lawyers don't argue the other side's case before a judge - why should you present both sides in your Kitchen Democracy issue? The answer lies in understanding the needs of the decision maker and your role as issue author.
Your role is to support the decision maker and your community by promoting robust debate. Most decision makers need to hear a diversity of opinion before finalizing their decision. They know they aren't experts in everything, and need to hear what others say. So, they will pay more attention to your issue on Kitchen Democracy if they can read multiple opinions on Kitchen Democracy.
Unlike a hearing, neither the decision maker nor your opponents are required to participate on Kitchen Democracy. You need to build an issue which is inviting to them all - and this means balance.
Without balance, your opponents will sense the deck is stacked against them and they will not participate. Nearly all opinions will support your position. After the first few, the decision maker will find the opinions of limited value. He or she may even wonder if the opinions are just a staged response from your friends and associates.
Even your allies will participate in greater number if your issue is balanced. Most people are drawn to a robust debate. Present both sides of the issue and you'll promote that debate, attract more supporters and further diversify the opinions expressed in your issue.
In addition to hearing diverse opinions, elected decision makers also need a sense of the numbers. If they discover an overwhelming support or opposition to an issue, they often feel obliged to follow the majority. By increasing the total number of participants on both sides, your balanced presentation will make the Kitchen Democracy tally more persuasive: 240 to 70 is more persuasive than 20 to 2.
As issue author, your role is to support the decision maker and your community by promoting robust debate. (Indeed, many Kitchen Democracy issue authors are decision makers.) Issue authors can also submit statements - but most of the arguments in favor of your position will probably be made by others. Let them do it for you - supporters of your position are probably more persuasive than you think.
You probably do have a position, and it takes confidence to honestly describe the position of your opponents. As you write it, you may wonder whether you're convincing someone to decide against you. The key is to have confidence that your position is a winning one - not just for you, but also for your community. You can build that confidence by being flexible.
While your issue is in the Suggestion Box, you'll receive suggestions from other users. Be open to them - you may discover a solution to your problem which would garner more public support than your original proposal.
For example, while driving on Main Street, you're tired of always stopping at the First Avenue stop sign. You propose a stop light on Kitchen Democracy.
Since most traffic is on Main, people who drive on First will complain - a stop light will make them wait longer. It seems like a win-lose situation, until someone suggests a traffic circle with evidence that convinces you this is a better solution: most drivers will not have to stop and most will save gas and time. Present this evidence in Version 2 of your suggested issue, and you'll gain the support of some of the First Avenue drivers.
Armed with this new support, you have the confidence to open the issue, and make a convincing case at City Hall. You've built a winning issue - both for yourself and for your community.
Of course, it's not always possible to find a solution that satisfies you and your community. But in that case, it's better to discover that after a few hours in the Kitchen Democracy suggestion box, than after a few months pounding the pavement in your community.