Stapilus: Lobbyists from all over

In his Idaho Politics Weekly column, Randy Stapilus/Ridenbaugh Press comments:

The Blaine County School District split deeply – the board’s vote was 3-2 – when it came to deciding whether to hire a lobbyist to represent it at the next state legislative session in Boise.

The vote went in the “yea” direction, with the support of the superintendent, who noted that

such vital matters as the school funding formula, which determines how state money will be apportioned to the districts, already have been under discussion. The person hired was Phil Homer, who has been a lobbyist before, working for the Idaho Association of School Administrators.

Blaine is so far the only individual school district to take this step, and there’s been some commentary about whether it should. More here.

Q: Do you think government entities should hire lobbyists? And/or: Do you think lobbyists are necessary or a necessary evil?