Today, the Birmingham City Council quietly passed a pair of resolutions appointing LEG Consulting LLC and LW Associates LLC as consultants for Councilor Kim Rafferty for as much as ,000 combined.
The resolutions read:
ITEM 19.
A Resolution approving the appointment of LEG Consulting LLC, in an amount not to exceed $30,000, as a consultant for Councilor Kimberly Rafferty to handle neighborhood relations, coordinate community events and work on economic development projects in District 2, and authorizing the Mayor to execute the appointment letter.
ITEM 20.
A Resolution approving the appointment of LW Associates LLC, in an amount not to exceed $30,000, as a consultant for Councilor Kimberly Rafferty to handle neighborhood relations, coordinate community events and work on economic development projects in District 2, and authorizing the Mayor to execute the appointment letter.
As made evident by the LW Associates website, the consulting group seems to be geared more toward political campaigning and less toward “neighborhood relations” or “community events.”
LW Associates is run by father-son duo, Lou Willie IV and Lou Willie III.
As for Willie IV, the company’s owner, his bio on the website reads, “Lou is a graduate of UAB and has extensive experience in campaigns and government. He has worked on campaigns from City Council to the campaign of a sitting President. As a consultant to the Birmingham City Council, Lou has drafted laws that are currently on the books – including a texting while driving ban and the for-hire-transportation code.”
LW Associates could not be reached for comment after numerous attempts.
On the company’s website it mentions coordinating events, which is part of the language of the resolution that was passed by the city council on Tuesday.
However, unlike the language in the resolution, it also lists, “Event Coordination, [to] create an audience of voters to engage and energize. Let us handle all the details.”
The website also suggests that the company will help to, “Build your Brand and Visibility now so you can campaign later!”
Exactly how the company’s services will be used was not stated in the council meeting. The website lists a number of techniques that might be used, including “robocalling.”
“Cheaply and quickly get your message out to a large number of voters. Robocalls are great for announcements such as endorsements,” the LW website reads.
Another possible service that the consulting group may provide would be putting up signage in Rafferty’s district. “Yard signs are an excellent way to increase name recognition. We’ll make sure they end up in the right places and in front of the right people,” the website says.
Or perhaps, as the LW website suggests, the $30,000 could go toward making sure the people living in District 2 are all registered voters. “VOTER REGISTRATION: Create new turnout targets and turn the tide of the election! Not only are you helping out your campaign, but you are adding voices to the democratic process.”
Attempts to reach Councilor Rafferty were unsuccessful due to the fact the phone number listed on the Birmingham City Council website for her office, (205) 254-2438, is not a working number.
