What is a Lobbyist

Joe Mapes

An effective lobbyist is an educator and a dot-connector. Lobbyists first must be trusted by legislators, politicians, and appointed officials as a source of reliable information. The lobbyist’s job is to make sure that the legislators and politicians are knowledgeable about a profession or industry’s needs before they cast a final vote on an issue affecting such. Accurate information comes from the industry or profession’s members in an association or just individuals that live, vote, and work in the politician’s district. The lobbyist then connects the client and their issues with the correct politicians, and that creates the pressure needed for grassroots to do its job. It all sounds really simple, and it is. It’s just not easy.