Down to the wire, Kansas City hires first woman-led lobbying firm for Jefferson City
Just days before the Missouri General Assembly begins its 2020 legislative session, Kansas City has chosen a new lobbying firm to represent its interests in Jefferson City.
The city was down to the wire, reviewing lobbyist applications late last month before deciding on The Giddens Group, led by Nancy Giddens — likely the first time the city has hired a woman-led firm for the valuable lobbying contract. Giddens and Shannon Cooper disclosed to the Missouri Ethics Commission on Saturday that they would be representing Kansas City in Jefferson City.
Giddens also represents the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce. She works with Cooper, who has close ties to Gov. Mike Parson dating back to when he and Parson served in the Missouri House together.
In an interview Monday, Giddens said that getting hired at the last minute will make the beginning of the session “tight,” but added that the first few weeks are typically slow.
“So we do have a week or two to get our feet underneath us and get going,” Giddens said.
Giddens said she has done significant work in the Kansas City area, and her portfolio of clients is largely anchored here.
“I love the city,” Giddens said. “I love the city’s people, and I certainly wanted to be part of it and to represent it if in fact the City Council and the mayor thought I was the right fit.”
Giddens beat out four other firms that bid on the contract, including Strategic Capitol Consulting, Catalyst, Flotron & McIntosh and Gamble & Schlemeier, which held the contract for decades until Mayor Quinton Lucas decided soon after he took office to open the procurement up to bidders.
“We’re proud that after an open, fair and competitive process — for the first time in decades — Kansas City has retained the Giddens Group,” Lucas said in a statement. “Having represented several organizations in our community for many years with a proven track record of success, this well-respected, woman-owned firm will help advocate for and advance Kansas City’s priorities in Jefferson City — chief among them, more state funding for public safety initiatives and mental health resources.”
The selection process took a somewhat lengthy path. Initially, firms were given until Oct. 31 to submit bids. At that time, city officials interviewed the Giddens Group, Strategic Capitol Consulting and Catalyst, according to two sources with knowledge of the bids.
Flotron & McIntosh, led by Richard McIntosh, who spearheaded a controversial effort to overhaul Title IX to favor those accused of sexual assault, was not interviewed, they said.
But in November, after The Star reported that the Federal Bureau of Investigation was asking questions about two projects with ties to Steve Tilley, who owns Strategic Capitol Consulting, the bidding process was abruptly reopened, though Lucas said the two events were not related.
During that second window, Gamble & Schlemeier bid on the contract, both sources said.
This story was originally published January 7, 2020 at 5:00 AM.
