By Dan Harrie
Salt Lake Tribune
Has Utah reached a point where a city needs a high-powered lobbyist to survive and prosper?
Yes, say West Jordan leaders.
The state’s fourth-largest city has decided to substantially expand its lobbying prowess — more than doubling its spending on contract lobbyists — to the tune of $230,000 for the coming 12 months.
City leaders pointed to other Utah municipalities — particularly Sandy — in saying a potent lobbying presence in the state Capitol, in Washington and in corporate boardrooms is no longer an extravagance, it’s a necessity.
“I must state that a couple of neighbors to our east have five different firms that represent them and spend over $500,000,” West Jordan Mayor Kim Rolfe said in pushing for the contract expansion. “If you look specifically at the transportation funding and some of the other funding that comes from the state, even though they’re much smaller than us, they get a lot larger share of those because of the lobbyists that work for them. I believe they’re worth their weight in gold.”
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