Congressperson, MP, etc.
I’ve called and sent emails. I usually contact my U.S. Representative, but I should probably start bugging my senators, just so they know that not everyone in this state thinks like they do.
City Councillor: Numerous times.
Member of Parliament: A few times.
Member of Provincial Parliament: Never.
Mainly state legislators, but I have also sent a few letters, and now emails to US Senators.
Only when Obama told me to. Seriously. It seriously never dawned on me that people I voted against would give a crap what I wanted them to do.
Emailed the Governor once. Didn’t do any good that I know of. On the plus side, they didn’t sell my email address to spammers.
Phoned a senator and rep before and a couple e-mails to senators and a couple to my House rep. My old rep was fantastic about contact and had numerous telephone “town halls” I’d get invites to. My current rep hasn’t done dick that I can tell but did once send me a form response letter that didn’t remotely address what I wrote about.
All the time. Both senators, my congresscritter (who is a crook), and my state assemblyperson. Email, phone calls and written letters.
Back in Australia, I am friends with city councillors, state members of parliament and federal members of parliament. In some cases, that’s because I’ve known them long before they went into politics. For example, I knew a former state premier and a former federal leader of the opposition when they were both students at university, through taking part in national student politics, even though they were from different states than my home state. I was also an active party branch member for about 20 years: for example, I was conducting preselection ballots (the equivalent of primaries, but held within the party) for state and federal MPs.
I’ve contacted my MP a few times. Once to seek his help in rectifying an error made by a government department that was affecting me; but also with a couple of queries.
A local city councillor is a friend of mine. Sometimes, we’ll talk about the issues when we’re (for example) on the golf course, but I don’t think that’s what the OP is looking for.
Well, they don’t know whether you voted for or against them, do they?
More importantly, perhaps, if they expect to run for reelection, presumably they entertain the hope that you will vote for them.
And then of course there’s the nice theory that their job is to represent their constituents’ interests regardless. Yeah right, I know, but I think we should try to uphold the theory anyway.
No, I never had enough reason to. I did contact the Bloc Québecois Fisheries and Wildlife Critic back in 1996, but that’s because I was participating in a mock parliament in my history class and that was the role I had.
As an aside, given how close that was to the referendum, choosing to play a role of a Bloc member (Official Opposition at the time) wasn’t very popular in my class. Thing is, it meant we didn’t have to do any work whatsoever writing any bills, and we could mock, criticize and otherwise annoy everyone else at will. Why wouldn’t you choose that? 
Well, there are several levels of things that you might want them to do.
On a small non-controversial thing (e.g., you complain about a pothole to your city councillor, when all they have to do is pass that on to the city engineering department), they don’t care whether you voted for them, but will help you any way.
On a big, controversial issue, they won’t pay much attention to what you as an individual say, but they will take into account how many people writing to them or ringing their office are on each side of the issue. But that’s democracy.
In this small town, I occasionally even run into the mayor or a city council being. I avoid making social things too political, but sometimes make comments.
Yes, emails, letters, return questionaires, etc.
I’ve always received back full page replies that never answered my concern. It has always been a full page of wiffle waffle fluff. I think the only interaction that would do anything is a boot to the head. At least my frustrations would have some outlet.
I once wrote an e-mail to a state representative whom I had foolishly helped elect. She voted against gay marriage, having the the gall to say that 90% of her constituents were opposed to it. This is in one of the most socially progressive counties in one of the most socially progressive states in the country. I told her as politely as I could manage that I would never vote for her lying ass again.
I once emailed my congressman. But got no response.
I’ve called and spoken with my representative on the county level a Commissioner on the Boone County Fiscal Court. And one evening while out on the town (actually across the river in Cincinnati) my wife and I ended up sitting next to the Judge Executive (highest elected official in the county) at the bar in restaurant. We registered our issues in person.
I emailed a long letter to my US Rep about the vote to defund planned parenthood. I received a long letter back which did nothing to address what I brought up, so it was obviously just a canned response. But I have sent emails several times to voice displeasure about certain topics.
I’ve had my congressman over to my house. I’ve talked to him at parties. I’ve even visited him in Washington a couple of times.
I write my congresspeople (senators and federal representatives) about once a month on various issues. Met with my congressman in his office on one particular issue. Call them occasionally.
This is all due to my interest in Human Rights issues (I’m a member of Amnesty International.)