Contract With Lobbying Firm Extended By Riverside County

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — The Board of Supervisors Tuesday approved a one-year extension on a contract with a federal lobbying firm that will continue representing Riverside County's interests and advocating its legislative platform in Washington, D.C.

In a 5-0 vote without comment, the board signed off on the $174,396 agreement with Washington, D.C.-based Kadesh & Associates LLC.

The previous five-year compact with the firm expired last month, and the newly ratified 12-month extension will end on Feb. 28, 2023.

The Executive Office did not recommend seeking competitive bids from other prospective lobbyists, as was done in 2017, when Kadesh & Associates was selected from among 22 prospects, according to EO documents.

"Among other defining characteristics, (Kadesh) had bipartisan governmental relations experience, Capitol Hill experience in both the Senate and the House of Representatives and demonstrated successes on behalf of other clients," according to an agency statement.

The county has relied on lobbyists at both the state and federal levels for more than three decades to represent its positions in Sacramento and Washington, D.C.

Issues that lobbyists attempt to promote on behalf of the county include funding for mandated programs, water infrastructure support and protection against military base closures.

"The purpose of the legislative program is to secure legislation that benefits the county and its residents, and to oppose or amend legislation that might adversely affect the county," the EO stated.

The process of selecting lobbyists changed in 2012 after it was discovered that competitive bidding in securing lobbying contracts had not been in place for nearly a decade.

Then-Supervisor Jeff Stone was the leading advocate for compelling prospective lobbyists to demonstrate how they could achieve results for the county at a lower cost. One lobbying contract was dropped after the policy change went into effect.