It’s no secret that if you want to interest City Hall in your client or organization, it’s best to be on the same page as the Mayor. Issues and events that complement the interests of the City of Chicago are the most likely to have support by the Mayor himself. This was the consensus of three top City officials --Miguel d’Escoto; Rodrigo Sierra and David Kennedy – who shared some insights into working productively with the City of Chicago.

The session, expertly moderated by WBBM-TV’s political editor, Mike Flannery, revealed that with the fast pace of City Hall, it’s nearly impossible to predict which program will be a priority, which official will attend an event, or even IF they will attend the event.

Miguel d’Escoto, commissioner of the Chicago Department of Transportation asked the capacity crowd to forgive him if instead of a promised appearance by the Mayor at an event, he is the last minute replacement. "I know you’re disappointed, but I’m accustomed to being the bearer of bad news since the only time most of you see me is when I have to explain construction problems that slow people down," he joked. However, d’Escoto urged the PR pros in attendance to change the paradigm of city government by partnering private companies with the public sector. By incorporating public and private common goals, important messages will have a more likely chance of garnishing both the attention of the City and the press.

"It’s sometimes frustrating for many of you, but you need to look at if from the City’s perspective. What is most relevant to you isn’t necessarily what’s most relevant to me. But if you understand the "Value" of our common goals, we can develop a partnership with your clients that will bring results." D’Escoto prefers to be contacted by e-mail (mdescoto@cityofchicago.org), since he doesn’t regularly pick up voice mail messages. He informed the audience that he’s a straight shooter and appreciates clear and concise communications. He will and often sees clients but the purpose of the meeting should be clear and the agenda should be pre-approved, surprises are not welcomed nor appreciated.

Considering that Mayor Daley receives 750-800 personal appearance requests a month, deputy press secretary Rod Sierra hopes that PR people will empathize with him when the Mayor can’t attend your event. While there is no guarantee that the Mayor will attend a given event, odds greatly increase when an event compliments a City Hall initiative. Yet Sierra makes no excuses for the Mayor, who he describes as a "tough boss, but a hard working one who really tries to attend as many events as he can during his very busy day, including weekend events." He added that Daley holds press conferences every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

Is there a secret to nailing down a Mayoral appearance? Sierra, who has served in his present post for two years, recommends "calling often to see if the Mayor’s calendar has changed, calling people with clout in a position to influence the decision, e-mailing and faxing, and when all else fails, cornering him to increase your odds." However, Sierra noted that if you get too aggressive with any of these tactics, it might have the opposite result. Tempering persistence with an understanding of the City official’s busy schedules will pay off.

"Even I can’t guarantee that the Mayor will come to one of my own events," bemoaned David Kennedy, Director of the Sports Development Office for the City of Chicago since 1994. Kennedy noted that the Mayor is more apt to attend events that are family oriented and bring in suburbanites, such as Taste of Chicago and the City’s music events. Kennedy’s responsibilities include the LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon and the Chicago Triathlon. He can be reached at 312-744-7430.

During Mike Flannery’s moderated Q&A session, Flannery noted that Daley has always been accessible to the media and expects his other city managers to be equally accessible. Flannery commended the City’s web site for it’s in depth information, including detailed information on city contract bids. D’Escoto echoed Flannery’s comments and invited more small companies to get involved in the City’s business.

City Hall representatives admitted the recent terrorist activities have severely impacted tourism and convention business but that Mayor Daley is determined to keep the City of Chicago as a prime destination for City/Suburban and outside visitors. A new campaign will be breaking soon to encourage more visits to downtown Chicago.

(Lisa E. DeVries is the Midwest Marketing Manager for Hinckley Spring Water Company, she is a Columbia College grad with a broad background in literature and journalism.)