Aldermen in Des Plaines, Illinois recently voted to defer paying lobbying firm McGuireWoods Consulting LLC ,100 after it was discovered that the company worked for Des Plaines opposing gambling expansion in Illinois at the same time it worked for the city of Rockford to support expansion. Des Plaines still owes ,100 to McGuireWoods, which has withdrawn from its contract with the city. “I think it’s totally ridiculous to give someone that amount of money for something they haven’t done and we told them to get out,” said Alderman Dick Sayad.
Sixth Ward Alderman Malcolm Chester said he discovered the conflict after city officials started examining Des Plaines’ lobbyist services and requirements. “I made a stink about it and said, ‘We can’t let this go on,'” Chester said.
City Manager Michael Bartholomew said McGuireWoods Consulting LLC was hired in 2012. He said contracts between McGuireWoods and Des Plaines have varied in term from annual to biannual, and since June 30, the firm was paid on a monthly basis. The city has paid McGuireWoods a total of $81,300, not including the $2,100 still due, Bartholomew noted.
Over the last five years, the city also has paid lobbyist Alfred Ronan $285,000 and the firm Government Consulting Services of Illinois $53,000, with Ronan receiving $5,000 monthly and Frank Cortese of Government Consulting Services of Illinois paid $1,000 monthly. Neither is under contract with the city, Bartholomew said. He stated the lobbying firms protect the interests of Rivers Casino. Last year, Des Plaines received about $8.8 million in casino-generated tax revenue.
Rockford Law Department Director Patrick Hayes said McGuireWoods initially was hired by the city in 2009. “Rockford has had a legislative position in favor of expansion of gaming, particularly with a casino to be sited in Rockford,” he said. Hayes said the city paid McGuireWoods $10,000 per month to lobby for gaming expansion on behalf of Rockford.
Chester works as a lobbyist for the Forest County Potawatomi Community in Wisconsin, owners of the Potawatomi Hotel and Casino in Minneapolis. Potawatomi spokesman George Emert explained Chester monitors issues of importance to the tribe in Illinois, including casino expansion. He does not actively lobby for or against any particular matter. Chester said his work for the tribe does not present a conflict of interest since the tribe and the city of Des Plaines both oppose gaming expansion in Illinois.
Although gambling expansion appears unlikely given Illinois’ current budget situation, Bartholomew and Chester said it’s important for the city to retain lobbyists. “We have to be prepared to act when the state acts,” Bartholomew said.
