Government Affairs vs. Lobbying: Where Local Work Fits
By James DickeyAbout the firmPublished January 15, 2026Updated September 28, 2026
The short answer
A company can keep an effective lobbyist and still need local support. Some assignments need a specialist for the Legislature or a state agency. Others need weeks of conversation with city and county officials and with the residents affected by a project, technology, or local policy. Many lobbyists already do local work. The hiring question is who will perform each task, and who will keep the pieces coordinated.
Two assignments that often travel together
Legislative and agency advocacy is aimed at a bill, a rule, or an official action, often in Austin. Local public affairs is aimed at a city council, a commissioners court, a local board, and the people who attend those meetings. One project can require both at once. A zoning case, a water question, and a state filing can be open in the same month.
Overlap is ordinary. A lobbyist may already know the mayor. A local public affairs adviser may be asked about a hearing at the Capitol. Put a name on each task so the resident meeting and the agency meeting both happen. The practical problem is a gap between two capable firms, each believing the other has the local conversations covered.
What JD Key does locally
JD Key focuses on Texas cities and counties. We help companies build local support before a decision becomes a fight. The local work is listening, finding constituents who are willing to speak, helping those constituents contact their own officials, tracking every contact, and speaking in public.
James Dickey leads strategy. Blake Sbrocco, Vice President, shares the local work and the public voice. Interviews, commentary, and testimony are given by James and Blake themselves. Advocacy may omit the client’s name. A named client is disclosed at the client’s request.
The firm works beside the company’s counsel, its lobbyist, and its internal team. An effective lobbyist should stay. The added question is who sits with residents, who writes down what they were told, and who stands up at the local hearing.
Who performs the work
Start from one set of facts the company can defend. Assign the Capitol or agency meetings, the meetings with local officials, and the conversations with residents. Use one reporting rhythm so counsel, the lobbyist, and the company hear the same account of what was asked and what was promised.
If your lobbyist already does the local listening and the follow-through, and your team can read that record, another firm may be unnecessary. Many lobbyists do this well. Add local capacity where the calendar, the geography, or the resident work is larger than the current assignment.
Agree on the assignment
Start with the decision, the places involved, and the work already covered. Define who will meet with officials, listen to residents, speak publicly, and report progress. JD Key can then propose a clear role alongside your existing advisers.
Frequently asked questions
Our lobbyist already covers Austin. Where does local work fit?
Austin coverage can be complete while a city council or commissioners court still needs its own conversations. Ask who will meet locally, how residents will be invited to speak for themselves, and how you will see the contact record.
Should we replace our lobbyist with a local firm?
Keep a lobbyist who is performing the legislative or agency assignment. Add local public affairs beside that work when resident meetings, the contact record, or the local hearing still need an owner. Judge the assignment by who does each task.
Can JD Key help when an issue also reaches state or federal government?
Yes. State or federal assistance can be part of an agreed engagement. We define the assignment with your team and coordinate with counsel or specialist advisers where needed. Our central focus remains Texas local government and public affairs.