Waukee Council Hires Lobbyist for 2013 Legislative Session

The City of Waukee has hired a Des Moines law firm to act as its lobbyist during the 2013 legislative session.

The Waukee City Council voted 4-1 Monday to approve a $19,200 contract to hire the Davis Brown law firm to represent the city at the Legislature, the Des Moines Register reports.

Council members Dan Dutcher, Shane Blanchard, Mike Watts and Shelly Hughes voted to hire the firm, which will work with city officials to develop a legislative agenda and strategy for the session, the newspaper said.

Councilman Casey Harvey voted against the measure, saying he saw no need for the city to have its own lobbying firm at the Statehouse. Most of the city’s legislative needs can be met by contacting the legislators who are elected to represent the people in Waukee, Harvey said.

He said that he would rather see city money spent on park services and staff needs, the Register said.

Mayor Bill Peard said hiring a lobbying firm was a good investment because the city has unique issues related to development along Alice’s Road which could be affected by legislative action.

Cornerstone Government Affairs, Capitol Communications and the Brick Gentry law firm, which represented Waukee during the last legislative session, also submitted lobbying proposals to the city, the newspaper said.