Government Relations Lobbyist Contract
Context
Council is considering hiring a Raleigh lobbyist after frustration with the state legislative delegation (including over Senate Bill 889). Staff recommended Electus Governmental Affairs, represented by Sam (Electus Governmental Affairs), who said the firm has delivered over $70 million for clients and does not write grants. Water and sewer capacity (tap limits in the Pilot and Fairgrove areas) was cited as a priority. Some members were skeptical or asked to see other firms. Details come from auto-captions.
Status
No vote was taken on August 4, 2026; staff offered to bring back the other firms interviewed. By October 12, budget amendment 2027-P4-01 proposed moving $60,000 from contingency for a government relations contract, and council asked that it be split from unrelated donations and placed on the regular agenda, which suggests a contract was approved in between (not seen in these sources).
On October 6 the Personnel and Finance Committee moved the Electus contract to the October 12 briefing after a closed session on contracts.
Log
- 2026-10-12 - Council Briefing - Budget amendment P4-01 ($60,000 for the government relations contract) separated from donations and put on the October 19 regular agenda.
- 2026-10-06 - City Council - After a closed session on contracts, the Personnel and Finance Committee moved the Electus state and federal representation contract to the October 12 briefing; $10,000 left from the light tower project was floated as one use for it.
- 2026-09-09 - Personnel and Finance Committee - Interviewed New Frame (Brian Lewis, Christie Jones; $5,000 a month) and Elevation Strategies ($15,000 a month, ruled out as too expensive); choice between New Frame and Electus left for the next briefing.
- 2026-08-04 - Personnel and Finance Committee - Sam presented Electus; questions on conflicts, grants, results and alternatives; no decision.