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City Government

Team Dave To Get Handler

 November 29, 2007 ⋅  Post a comment

Boise’s mayor and two city councilors recently got reelected, but apparently they aren’t up to the job.

Now they are looking for someone to do what elected leaders in other Idaho cities do as part of their jobs… like maintain relationships with state and federal agencies and elected officials.

Within the past year Team Dave and Council hired a lobbyist along with a consulting firm to tell the state and fed lawmakers what the city lawmakers want. Now they are looking for a guy to “coordinate the efforts” of the people who do their bidding. Do any of these people ever talk to each other?

Based on the job description it is not unfair to say the following job description sounds a lot like what a mayor SHOULD be doing. Word on the street has the job going to long time Democrat operative Ryan Hill, who just happened to manage Bieter’s recent political campaign. If Hill is hired he will likely be known as a FULL TIME HANDLER. They are going through the application process just the same.

Here is the official job description:

“Position will manage a wide range of activities associated with the City of Boise’s ongoing relationship with state, federal and other local government agencies. Position will develop ongoing programs to facilitate interaction and build partnerships between the Mayor/City Council/city departments and the state Legislature and state agencies; Congress and federal agencies; other county, city, and regional government officials; public school districts and higher-education institutions; and quasi-governmental entities such as utilities. Position will answer to the Assistant to the Mayor for Administration but will work closely with all City departments, members of the City Council, and the City’s contract intergovernmental relations firms to ensure a coherent, productive strategy that benefits the citizens of Boise.”
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
–Directs development of City’s legislative agenda at the state and federal levels, working with the Mayor, City Council and City departments to generate priorities and coordinate efforts.
–Develops and directs a program for maintaining regular, productive contact with legislative and political leaders, and coordinates staff efforts to fulfill the City’s legislative objectives.
–Identifies opportunities for collaboration with governmental entities at every level and formulates recommendations for those partnerships to positive fruition.
–Works for early recognition and resolution of conflicting agendas between the City and other governmental jurisdictions.
–Advises the Mayor, Council and City departments on relevant legislation, policies and budget decisions, particularly when such decisions hold direct implications, positive or negative, for City services and the citizens who depend on them.
–Maintains direct and frequent contact with the City’s contract intergovernmental relations firms at the Idaho Statehouse and in Washington, D.C., working with those firms to develop and respond to legislation of direct concern to the City of Boise.
–Coordinates special projects at the direction of the Mayor.
–Reports back regularly to the Mayor, City Council and departments on all aspects of intergovernmental affairs.

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