Gwinnett Is Spending $276,000 on State and Federal Lobbying: What Is the County Paying Lobbyists to Pursue?

Gwinnett County is spending $276,000 a year on state and federal lobbying — and the firm collecting the checks is led by a former Georgia Attorney General.

The contract, designated RP020-25, was awarded to Dentons US LLP on November 5, 2025, after a competitive procurement process that drew proposals from six firms. The lead lobbyist on the Gwinnett account is Samuel S. Olens, who served as Georgia's 53rd Attorney General from 2010 to 2018 and now serves as a partner in Dentons' Regulatory, Public Policy and Government Affairs practice.

The contract pays Dentons $23,000 per month — a flat rate that covers state and federal lobbying and governmental affairs services. The initial term runs through August 2026, with four one-year renewal options at the same price.

The Procurement: Six Firms Competed

The county solicited proposals through a Request for Proposals (RFP) process, with proposals due August 15, 2025. Six firms submitted proposals:

Firm	Phase I Score (100)	Cost (Annual)	Total Score (120)
Dentons US LLP	84.75	$276,000 (BAFO)	98.00
Peachtree Government Relations, LLC	81.50	$120,000	97.25
Ice Miller LLP	72.00	$270,000	80.94
BGR Group (BGR Governmental Affairs)	62.00	—	62.00
Midnight Rider Consulting, LLC	30.33	—	30.33
Roseland Concessions	20.75	—	20.75

Dentons won with the highest total score of 98.00 out of 120 possible points. Notably, Peachtree Government Relations — which submitted the lowest cost proposal at $120,000 per year — scored just 0.75 points behind Dentons. Ice Miller LLP, which submitted a $270,000 proposal, finished third.

Dentons' original pricing was $24,250 per month ($291,000 annually). The firm reduced its price to $23,000 per month ($276,000 annually) in its Best and Final Offer (BAFO), which ultimately won the contract.

The scoring was weighted across seven categories: consultant identification/profile (5 points), experience of consultant (25 points), qualifications and experience of staff (35 points), references (10 points), understanding of scope of work (25 points), cost (10 points), and optional interview (10 points).

Sam Olens: The Lead Lobbyist

Samuel Scott Olens is a partner at Dentons and the lead contact on the Gwinnett County contract. His career in Georgia public service is extensive:

• Georgia Attorney General (2010-2018): Elected twice, Olens championed initiatives against sex trafficking and prescription drug abuse
• Cobb County Commission Chair (2002-2010): Led Georgia's third-most populous county before running for Attorney General
• Dentons partner (2019-present): Joined the firm's Regulatory, Public Policy and Government Affairs practice

Olens is based at Dentons' Atlanta office at 303 Peachtree Street NE, Suite 5300, Atlanta, GA 30308. He can be reached at 404-527-4108 or Sam.Olens@Dentons.com.

At the Gwinnett Legislative Delegation meeting on December 3, 2025 — less than a month after the contract was awarded — Olens was already at work. According to the official minutes, "Denton's Sam Olens provided an overview of ACCG and the County's legislative priorities" alongside Todd Edwards of the Association County Commissioners of Georgia (ACCG).

What Gwinnett Is Paying Lobbyists to Pursue

The contract covers "State and Federal Lobbying and Governmental Affairs Services" — meaning Dentons advocates for Gwinnett County's interests before the Georgia General Assembly and the U.S. Congress.

Gwinnett County's legislative priorities, as presented at the December 2025 Legislative Delegation meeting and the March 2026 State of the County address, include:

State Level

• Budget and appropriations: Gwinnett's proposed 2026 budget totals $2.6 billion ($2.19 billion operating + $409 million capital). The county seeks state funding for projects including transportation, public safety, and infrastructure.
• Affordable housing: Chairwoman Nicole Love Hendrickson has made housing affordability a priority, including the creation of an affordable housing development fund.
• Redevelopment: The county is pursuing redevelopment of key corridors, including the Jimmy Carter Boulevard area.
• Election administration: The county's 2026 elections priorities include GAVREO Region 3 coordination, polling location updates, voting equipment deadlines, and Title 21 elections code cleanup.
• Transportation and transit: The county recently launched a mobility and access planning app and is pursuing transit development.

Federal Level

• Transportation funding: Gwinnett seeks federal transportation grants, including CMAQ (Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality) funding. Duluth itself has committed up to $2.06 million as a 20% local match for a potential CMAQ grant for a trail connection.
• Public safety funding: The county's 2026 budget includes $420,384 for a Situational Awareness and Crime Response Center and $2.49 million for E911 phone system updates.
• Community development: The county pursues federal grants for housing, infrastructure, and community services.

How Much Has Gwinnett Spent on Lobbying?

The $276,000 annual contract with Dentons represents the county's primary direct lobbying expenditure. However, Gwinnett County also pays for lobbying through membership in several organizations that advocate on its behalf:

• Association County Commissioners of Georgia (ACCG): The county's primary state-level advocacy organization, which develops a county platform and legislative agenda
• National Association of Counties (NACo): Advocates for county interests before the federal government
• Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC): Regional planning and intergovernmental coordination
• Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA): Professional association for public finance
• International City/County Management Association (ICMA): Professional local government management

The county also dedicates a staff member to work with legislators on state and federal policy issues, providing an annual update to the Board of Commissioners.

What Results Has the Lobbying Produced?

Documenting specific legislative outcomes attributable to the Dentons contract — which began in late 2025 — is difficult at this stage. The 2026 Georgia General Assembly session, which Dentons' Capitol Insights newsletter described as focused on "affordability" and "driving policy," addressed tax relief, housing costs, workforce development, education, and healthcare access.

Gwinnett County's 2026 budget includes $2.6 billion in spending, with public safety and judicial receiving 37.7% of the operating budget. The county's AAA/Aaa bond rating — maintained since 1997 — reflects the fiscal stability that effective lobbying for state and federal support helps sustain.

Chairwoman Hendrickson serves on the ACCG Policy Steering Committee and was elected to the ACCG Board of Managers for 2026-2027. She also serves as vice-chair of NACo's Large Urban County Caucus, positions that complement the Dentons contract by giving the county direct influence over the legislative agendas of the organizations that lobby on its behalf.

Why This Matters in Gwinnett County

Gwinnett County is Georgia's second-most populous county, with approximately 1 million residents. Its size and diversity give it significant influence at the state Capitol and in Washington — but only if that influence is actively cultivated.

The $276,000 lobbying contract represents a small fraction of the county's $2.6 billion budget, but it shapes decisions that affect billions in state and federal funding. Every dollar spent on lobbying is intended to return many times its value in appropriations, grants, and favorable legislation.

For Duluth residents, the county's lobbying priorities translate directly into local impact. State transportation funding affects Pleasant Hill Road traffic. Federal housing grants affect affordability. Election administration policies affect how ballots are printed and processed under the Fort Orange Press contract.

The question for taxpayers is whether $276,000 a year to Dentons — plus the cost of county staff time and membership dues to ACCG, NACo, and other organizations — is producing measurable results. That is a question the Board of Commissioners should be prepared to answer when the contract comes up for renewal.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does Gwinnett County spend on lobbying?

Gwinnett County's primary lobbying contract with Dentons US LLP is $276,000 per year. The county also pays for lobbying through memberships in ACCG, NACo, ARC, and other organizations, and dedicates a staff member to legislative affairs.

Who is Gwinnett County's lobbyist?

Samuel S. Olens, a partner at Dentons US LLP and former Georgia Attorney General (2010-2018), is the lead lobbyist on the Gwinnett County account. He is based at Dentons' Atlanta office.

When was the Dentons lobbying contract awarded?

The contract (RP020-25) was awarded on November 5, 2025, after a competitive procurement process that drew proposals from six firms. The contract commenced September 1, 2025 or upon Board of Commissioners approval.

What does Gwinnett County lobby for?

The county's legislative priorities include state and federal funding for transportation, public safety, affordable housing, election administration, and community development. The county also advocates on elections code, redevelopment, and infrastructure policy.

How does Gwinnett's lobbying spending compare to other counties?

Gwinnett's $276,000 direct lobbying contract is in addition to membership dues paid to ACCG, NACo, and other organizations that lobby on the county's behalf. A direct comparison to other Georgia counties was not available in the public documents reviewed for this article.

Sources & Primary Documents

• Gwinnett County, RP020-25 Award Tabulation, November 5, 2025
• Gwinnett County, RP020-25 Contract Documents
• Gwinnett County Legislative Delegation Meeting Minutes, December 3, 2025
• Gwinnett County, 2026 State of the County Address, March 6, 2026
• Gwinnett County, Citizen Finance Guide — Lobbying
• Dentons, Samuel S. Olens profile, dentons.com
• OpenSecrets, Dentons US federal lobbying disclosures
• HigherGov, Contract Opportunity RP020-25

More Gwinnett County Coverage

For more reporting from across Gwinnett County — Lawrenceville, Duluth, Norcross, Snellville, Suwanee, and every community in the county — visit our Gwinnett County news hub, or browse all local news from WorthFighting.org.