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Adams Outdoor Advertising – Government Relations
The City of Virginia Beach and Adams Outdoor Advertising had been at odds for 15 years. Finally realizing there must be a better way to work with the city, Adams Outdoor searched for a Virginia Beach government relations firm to find the answer. They selected Rourk Government Relations in April 2008 because of its government relations expertise, business and community connections, media contacts, clear and executable plan, and solid reputation for results (not excuses).
The mission was to revise a very restricting and unfair billboard ordinance in place since 1988 into an ordinance that allowed for digital billboards in Virginia Beach.
David Rourk and Brian Kirwin waged a smart, methodical government relations campaign that reached out to Virginia Beach City Council members, City Staff, Public Safety Officials, Planning Commission members, the media, and key business and community leaders.
On Nov. 10, 2009, against all odds, the Rourk Government Relations firm helped achieve a 6-4 Virginia Beach City Council “yes” vote, and the resolution was sent to the Virginia Beach Planning Commission.
In May 2010, the billboard ordinance went before City Council for a final vote. While Adams Outdoor Advertising and Rourk Government Relations pushed for a deferral, heavy negative opposition from the mayor, vice mayor, former mayor, two former council members, city staff, garden clubs and beautification commission tried to kill the ordinance that evening. However, a solid block of six City Council members believed in digital billboards and our logic and eventually voted to give Adams Outdoor Advertising an indefinitely deferral, meaning Adams could strategically put the ordinance before City Council again whenever they wished.
Adams Outdoor Advertising never thought they’d see the day when the Virginia Beach City Council would give them a “yes” vote or a positive “deferral” vote, but Rourk Government Relations helped them turn the relationship around.
About Rourk Government Relations
The Rourk Government Relations firm is expert at government relations, community relations and media relations, and serves clients in Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Hampton, Newport News, Hampton Roads, and throughout Virginia.
For a no-cost phone consultation, feel free to call David Rourk at (757) 478-0150. |
