District 300 may hire Munson as lobbyist

Since 2002, Community Unit District 300 has relied on Elgin Republican Ruth Munson to advocate for the district in the Illinois House.

Hoping to snatch a chunk of the federal stimulus and state capital funds, district officials this year may turn to Munson again - even though she is no longer a state legislator.

Munson, who lost her 2008 re-election bid to Elgin Democrat Keith Farnham, is trying to parlay her six year's experience in state government into a job as a lobbyist, forming an Elgin-based lobbying firm called The Munson Group.

"Because I had such a close relationship with my communities - I talked to several of them about advocating on their behalf in Springfield," Munson said.

In her capacity as a lobbyist, Munson this year worked on Elgin Day, lobbying lawmakers and agencies for state funding for the city. Munson said she has also been retained by the Illinois Chamber of Commerce.

District 300 administrators have recommended that the school board hire Munson. For $5,000, Munson would lobby for capital funds, advise District 300 on federal stimulus cash and push legislators to exempt schools from a rule requiring wheelchair access for some press boxes.

"I know the issues so well, having been with that community for six years," Munson said. "I bring that perspective to the General Assembly."

It is unclear how effective Munson might be. The biggest issue, $30 million in building renovations, depends on the state passing a capital bill for the first time since 1999 and on high-level negotiations over politically risky tax increases.

Other districts with less resources have been able to navigate state government without outside help. Officials in Huntley Unit District 158 have met with their state lawmakers and traveled to Springfield to promote a bill that would give the district about $2 million more in state aid.

Although District 158 lacks a paid lobbyist, approval by the full House is the only hurdle left for the state aid fix.

"We've probably done the lobbying ourselves - We haven't paid anybody to assist with that," Superintendent John Burkey said. "For what we've had to deal with, our strategy has worked well."

Burkey did note, however, that a paid lobbyist may be more cost-effective for a larger district like District 300 that stands to gain many more millions in state and federal funding than District 158.

District 300 board President Joe Stevens said the district, which is waiting on $30 million in state capital funding, needs all the help it can get.

"At this point we're desperate, and we'll do anything to help push it along," Stevens said, noting, "I would certainly want to know why (Munson) would be effective given all those reasons."