DuPage keeping lobbyists for another year

DuPage County officials defended the county's use of lobbyists before awarding nearly $300,000 in contracts to several firms.

"As the second-largest county in Illinois with nearly 1 million residents, it is critically important that the county maintain an effective presence in both Washington, D.C. and Springfield," county board Chairman Dan Cronin said.

On Tuesday, county board members voted 15-1 to spend $260,000 to keep three lobbying firms for another year.

Two of the firms - All-Circo Inc. and V.A. Persico Consulting Inc. - are pushing the county's legislative agenda in Springfield. The third firm, BGR Government Affairs LLC, lobbies on the federal level.

DuPage also will contribute $24,000 to help pay McGuire Woods Consulting, which represents the county board and the DuPage County Health Department at the state level.

That expenditure didn't require a county board vote because it's less than $25,000, officials said.

Board member Elizabeth Chaplin cast the only vote against the contracts for the lobbying firms.

"I don't see the value," she said. "I think as county board members we can take a more active working with our own representatives and save the taxpayers money."

Still, Cronin said it's "vitally important" to have an effective team of lobbyists communicating DuPage's priorities and concerns directly to lawmakers.

"Based on my personal experience in the state capital, I can't tell you how vital it is," said Cronin, who a former state senator.

Cronin said the lobbyists have helped DuPage secure federal funding and get state laws changes to implement local reforms. "I don't believe that these accomplishments would be possible without effective lobbyists," he said.