Aurora lobbying for Springfield's attention

Aurora may be the state's second-largest city, but several aldermen want to make sure it "appears on the maps" hanging on the walls of their state and federal legislators.

Aldermen voted 9-2 this week to extend lobbyist Dan Shomon's $84,000 base contract through this year, although the deal comes with some strings.

Shomon now must provide aldermen with quarterly written reports detailing his meetings and activities and meet personally with the city council's finance committee.

According to an overview of accomplishments prepared by Shomon, he had a busy second half last year.

During that time he said he lobbied for "needed health-care funding" for DuPage County, including Aurora; facilitated meetings with Pace to improve the city's bus shelters; worked with legislators and ComEd to upgrade downtown Aurora's electrical system; and lobbied for federal funds for the city's new public safety facility.

Fourth Ward Alderman Rick Lawrence, one of the two who voted against the contract, said he thinks lobbyists "are part of the problem" with the state's political system. Beyond that, he said he takes offense with Shomon taking credit for the city's successes,

"I'm reading Mr. Shoman's report on what he supposedly has accomplished and to me it reads like a book report from a child that didn't read the book," Lawrence said. "If he actually did half of what he says he did, it's tremendously impressive and we're not paying him enough money."

Shomon declined comment Wednesday but the service agreement states Dan Shomon Inc. will assist the city in "pursuing its governmental relations and other objectives."

The agreement also indicates Shomon will focus on obtaining grants and resources, connect the city with key northern Illinois political and civic leaders and assist in public relations efforts to "enhance the city's image and improve opportunities for economic development, tourism and regional media coverage."

Alderman-at-Large Richard Irvin said he has supported the lobbyist post since long before Mayor Tom Weisner brought Shomon on board in 2006. But it took spending a day with Shomon in Springfield to convince him Shomon was the right guy for the job.

"I had my doubts about (Shoman) after reading the reports and seeing what he suggests he's done in the last year during his first contract," Irvin said. "But I had the opportunity to go to Springfield with him (last week) and I believe he showed us he was absolutely the person we need speaking on our behalf.

"He showed us he was dynamic and able to put us in contact with people we needed to be in contact with in Springfield."

Still, 3rd Ward Alderman Stephanie Kifowit argued the city likely could get just as much exposure for about $30,000 less if it went to bid for lobbyist services.

"We should ensure the tax-payers are being properly represented by the best person for the job, not just the person to happen along," she said. "I don't think at this price that it is warranted. I think there are effective lobbyists that we could get, maybe the city of Naperville's lobbyist, that we could get at a more affordable price at a time where we're cutting services to residents, we're cutting residential programs and things that are vital."

Even aldermen supporting Shomon's extension couldn't argue that his services were not "vital," but more of necessary evil in today's political arena.

Irvin was one who said the city shouldn't need a lobbyist but the elected officials are not always to be trusted.

"Maybe it's the job of our elected officials to keep us on the map but we can ensure, by having someone that we hire speak on our behalf, that they're doing what we need them to do," he said. "You can't ensure that with an elected official all the time. It should be that way but unfortunately it's not."