Whittier : Council Votes to Hire Government Lobbyist
The City Council this week voted unanimously to hire a government lobbyist to monitor legislative activity in Sacramento and Washington.
The city will pay Joe A. Gonsalves and Sons $35,000 a year to keep city officials up-to-date on legislation that may affect Whittier and to lobby state and national leaders on the city’s behalf.
Former Whittier resident Moonyean Kistler, a lobbyist for private industry, criticized the decision.
“I do not believe our cities and counties should be hiring third parties to represent their issues,” she told council members at Tuesday’s meeting. “The money should be spent on sending you or our city manager to Sacramento for testimony if the need should arise.”
Gonsalves’ firm represents a number of California cities.
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