The word “lobbyist” seems to be one that causes most Americans to shake their heads and wonder. The term has become pejorative and brings to mind shady dealmaking and unfairness, but in the recently published book “The Ethical Lobbyist,” political scientist Thomas Holyoke of Fresno State University offers the idea that lobbying itself is not a bad thing.
Holyoke and Valley-based lobbyist Stan Barnes of Copperstate Consulting spoke about the topic.