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Chris Dorworth with wife, Rebekah, and daughter, Grace. Photos: Sarah Bray Photography
and lobbying reforms during his two years as speaker. Last year, for example, the House passed a six-year lobbying ban for lawmakers, but that went nowhere. The short path from public service to Adams Street has always been a topic of discussion among reformers who often are unable to turn their rhetoric into policy change, but Dorworth views it differently. “A lot of people malign the political lobbying job, but a lot of the time lobbyists take hits to be the foot soldiers in The Process,” Dorworth said. Shortly after his loss, Brian Ballard, head of the lobbying powerhouse firm, called. A month later, Dorworth took the path of many former powerful lawmakers: he joined a lobbying firm. “I had no idea that Ballard Partners was going to be there when I lost the election, but sometimes you hit the reset button and a week later I had the baddest firm in town calling,” Dorworth said. The call wasn’t random though. Ballard had been eyeing Dorworth for some time. “Winning or losing an election doesn’t determine someone’s value,” Ballard said. “I really got to know Chris during his Speaker-designate time and thought he was one of the brightest guys to be around and bring people together.” 114 | INFLUENCE SPRING 2018
