Former Aldermen Joe Moore and Roderick Sawyer join Fred Lebed in LaunchingPublic Affairs Firm

CHICAGO, IL. – NOVEMBER, 2023:

Former Chicago Aldermen Joe Moore and Roderick Sawyer and veteran public affairs professional, Fred Lebed, today announced the launch of MLS Public Strategies, LLC, a new firm that will provide tailored government affairs advice and advocacy services to individuals, businesses, not-for-profits, and trade associations seeking to navigate today’s ever-changing political and governmental landscape.

MLS (Moore, Lebed, Sawyer) Strategies brings together three political veterans who boast a combined total of over 120 years of political, legal, and state and local government service.

Moore worked for seven years as an attorney in the City of Chicago Law Department before being elected to the Chicago City Council where he served with distinction for 28 years. After leaving office in 2019, Moore formed Joe Moore Strategies, LLC., representing a wide variety of clients, including government contractors, affordable housing developers, retailers, and retail and housing provider associations.

Lebed got his start in Illinois State government, serving as Assistant State Comptroller and later as Deputy Chief of Staff and Director of Intergovernmental Affairs for the Attorney General. He later worked in Cook County government as Special Assistant to the County Board President. For the last 24 years, Lebed has served as President and CEO of the

Prairie Group Consulting, Inc., which is recognized as the leading healthcare consultant in Illinois, representing hospitals and healthcare systems at all levels of government.

Sawyer, the youngest son of the late Chicago Mayor Eugene Sawyer, has spent his entire life immersed in politics and local government. He served for 12 years in the Chicago City Council where he chaired the City Council Black Caucus. In addition to his government service, Sawyer is an attorney in private practice, specializing in real estate, business and

municipal law, and has served as an administrative law judge and a Special Assistant Attorney General.

At a time of extraordinary change at all levels of government, Moore, Lebed, and Sawyer bring a combination of knowledge, experience and political savvy rarely found in the government affairs space. “Between the three of us,” Moore said, “there is not a public official in the State of Illinois whom we don’t know and a government office we have not visited.”

“This is a very exciting time to launch a full-service public affairs firm and use our cumulative knowledge and experience to assist individuals and organizations in navigating the governmental labyrinth,” said Lebed. “We know how government officials and administrators think and what it takes to convince them to reach a desired result,” he added.

Sawyer was enthusiastic about teaming up with Moore and Lebed. "I am excited to begin this new chapter in my life with two of the most knowledgeable, energetic, and respected professionals in Chicago,” Sawyer said. “We know government, we know the decision-makers, we know politics, and we know how to get things done."

Lebed noted that “the three of us have known and worked with each other for decades. We are trusted, hard-working, and collaborative.”

“Individuals and companies of all kinds need advocates they can trust to help them navigate government bureaucracies and legislative processes with a high level of professionalism, a strong set of values and an adherence to the law,” Moore said. “Fred Lebed and Rod Sawyer are my friends and long-time colleagues whom I trust to give their all for our clients and ensure that government works for everyone,” he added.

Organizations seeking a long-tern relationship with a full-service government affairs firm, as well as individuals and businesses in need of a quick resolution to a problem or a solution to grow their business, will find hands-on support from the principals at MLS Public Strategies. Companies and organizations who never hear from the consultants they keep on retainer now have an alternative—MLS Public Strategies.

ABOUT US

Joe Moore (Ret. Alderman, City of Chicago, 1991-2019)

Joe Moore, President of Joe Moore Strategies, LLC since 2019, brings to the table over 40 years of political, legal, and local government experience. He worked for seven years as an attorney in the City of Chicago Department of Law, where he represented the City in a wide variety of cases at the trial and appellate court level, including the Illinois Supreme Court and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.

During his long tenure on the City Council, Moore was widely acknowledged for his political independence, effectiveness, and ability to build coalitions across the political spectrum. He served as chairman of several City Council committees, including the powerful Committee on Housing and Real Estate.

Moore gained worldwide renown as the first elected official in the United States to implement “participatory budgeting,” a process of democratic deliberation and decision-making in which community residents decide how to allocate a portion of a municipal budget. The process, which began in Moore’s 49th Ward, has expanded to over 30 cities in the U.S. and

Canada.

Moore’s government connections and friendships extend nationally through his longtime service on the National League of Cities (NLC), an organization that advocates on behalf of the country's 19,000 cities, towns, and villages, and Democratic Municipal Officials, a Democratic National Committee constituency organization.

Fred Lebed, (Illinois and Cook County Government 1974-1999; CEO of Prairie Consulting 1999 to present)

Fred Lebed is the leading healthcare consultant in Illinois, representing hospitals and healthcare systems. Additionally, Lebed is the President/C.E.O. of The Prairie Group Consulting, Inc. with a long history of successfully assisting clients through complex hurdles over several marketplaces, including healthcare, technology, transportation, business

solutions, energy and utilities and financial services.

Lebed has represented clients to the Illinois Governor’s Office and the Illinois General Assembly, The Cook County Board President’s Office and The Cook County Board, The City of Chicago and counties, and municipalities throughout the state. He has served a wide-range of private sector clients, from small start-ups to Fortune 100 organizations with

their public affairs needs, including working with their C-Suite in developing relationships across the local civic, business, ethnic and faith-based landscapes.

Roderick T. Sawyer (Ret. Alderman, City of Chicago, 2011- 2023).

Rod Sawyer brings a breadth of expertise and experience to the partnership. As Alderman, Sawyer served as the Chairman of the City Council Black Caucus. He is the youngest son of the late Chicago Mayor Eugene Sawyer and has spent his entire life immersed in politics and government.

Sawyer is an attorney in private practice, specializing in Real Estate, Business and Municipal Law. His legal experienc includes serving as an Administrative Law Judge for the Illinois Commerce Commission; Special Assistant Attorney General for the Illinois Department of Transportation; and Prosecutor for the Illinois Secretary of State; and Of Counsel

to the law firm Odelson & Sterk, Ltd. Sawyer is also a licensed stockbroker and Real Estate broker.

For media inquiries, please contact Samantha Frontera at: (847) 703-0529 or at: sfrontera@exclusivepr.biz