The Oak Brook-based lobbyist firm of Hoffman-Vaughn Associates moved a step closer Tuesday to adding Du Page County to a list of clients that includes the Forest Preserve Commission, even though County Board Chairman Aldo Botti argued that having the firm on both payrolls represents a conflict of interest.
The $33,000 county contract would be in addition to the $24,000 a year the Forest Preserve District pays the firm. Gene Hoffman and Charles “Chuck” Vaughn are both former Republican county office-holders.
Hoffman, a former state representative from Elmhurst, and Vaughn, a past president of the Du Page County Forest Preserve Commission, corralled the forest preserve as their first major client more than a year ago.
The pair also represent Commonwealth Edison in Springfield, lobbying for the utility’s controversial quest to run high-tension wires along the Prairie Path, an issue that has taken up hours of discussion by both the County Board and the Forest Preserve Commission.
Botti said the firm represents too many masters.
“We might as well give them the key to the county building,” Botti said. “It’s nothing that’s illegal or corrupt, but to me it’s a very apparent conflict to serve three masters.”
But County Board member Barbara Purcell (R-Downers Grove), chairwoman of the county’s Legislative Committee, said the firm has distinguished itself in its dealings in Springfield.
“I’m comfortable with them,” Purcell said. “They do a good job for the forest preserve. Gene Hoffman has an excellent reputation; he knows everybody and he knows all of the local issues.”
But during a Legislative Committee meeting last week, Purcell expressed concern that the firm has few ties with Democrats in Springfield. However, she changed her mind before Tuesday’s committee meeting and said she’ll bring the contract to the County Board floor next week for approval.
“I’m sure some members of the board will think that their connections are too Republican, but Hoffman has good contacts on either side of the aisle,” Purcell said.
Hoffman-Vaughn outbid three other firms, including Chicago-based Mary Rooney, who had lobbied for the county in 1992.
The committee had considered not recommending a lobbyist at all this year, reasoning most issues crucial to the county were big-ticket enough that the board should waive its rules and do its own lobbying.
Three issues of major concern to Du Page residents are reinstatement of the 4-cents-per-gallon gas tax, and the futures of the income tax surcharge and unfunded state mandates.
But the committee abandoned that approach and is looking into the feasibility of hiring another firm to reinforce the lobbying effort on an as-needed basis.
“On an issue that’s as important as the gas tax, I think we have to pull out every gun you can hire,” committee member William Maio said.
