The Garden City Telegram
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City approves hiring lobbyist
Published 12/10/2008 in News : Politics
By STEPHANIE FARLEY
City Commissioner John Doll called it "a sad state of affairs" Tuesday as he and his fellow commissioners unanimously approved former Kansas House Speaker Robin Jennison as lobbyist for the Southwest Kansas Coalition, which currently includes the cities of Garden City, Dodge City and Liberal.
It's not that Doll feels Jennison's isn't up to the job, but, Doll said, legislators already exist to do some of the area's bidding as far as representing, supporting and fighting for issues important to Garden City and southwest Kansas. He said he feels area legislators should be doing the work that Jennison is set to handle for the three cities.
But that isn't happening, Doll said, as much as he'd like to see, and that's why hiring a lobbyist to protect interests of various areas and entities in Topeka is necessary.
"We can either play the game or sit on the sidelines," he said.
City commissioners approved the hiring of Jennison and an interlocal agreement among the three cities making it possible for the three -- and more communities should they choose to join -- to share Jennison Government Services, which was one of seven proposals returned to the city seeking lobbyists to represent the coalition.
Jennison served in the Kansas Legislature from 1990 to 2000 and has been involved in lobbying on behalf of the Pawnee Watershed District for the HorseThief Reservoir project, as well as being instrumental in helping Dodge City be chosen as a casino location. According to City Manager Matt Allen, Jennison's services will cost about $4,000 a month for the four months of the legislative session -- totalling $17,000 per session.
No one spoke in opposition to the recommendation at Tuesday's meeting.
Allen and other members of the coalition's executive committee, which includes the city mayors and managers, are recommending the cities put $8,000 to $9,000 apiece into an account to cover Jennison's services and leave a little extra to handle additional issues that may come up.
The Liberal City Commission on Tuesday approved 3-2 the executive committee's recommendation of Jennison. Dodge City Commissioners will address the issue next week.
Garden City Commissioner Reynaldo Mesa said he believes Jennison is right for the job. In the Legislature's offseason, Jennison helps with the family's farming operation in Healy. Jennison has said he's excited about working with the coalition and believes the coalition and region working as a whole is the right direction for the area.
Each of the participating cities must approve the interlocal agreement for Jennison to be hired.
Mesa said he feels Jennison's western Kansas ties will serve the coalition well because he understands the area's issues and is interested in helping.
"I think he will serve us well," Mesa said, adding, "If it doesn't work out, it doesn't work out. But I don't think that's going to be the case."
Mesa said Jennison will represent southwest Kansas full-time as a lobbyist, going after "what we want" and "watching out for us." Not only is Jennison looking after the interests of the coalition and area, Mesa said, but also informing the governing bodies and those involved of what's going on in Topeka and understanding the various issues.
"I don't want people setting the agenda for us," Mesa said, adding he feels it's important to have strong representation for the area in Topeka. "I think we have that in Robin."
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