Area governments spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on lobbyists each year in an effort to get public agencies and elected lawmakers to hear their voices over the clamor of competing interests on Capitol Hill.

A Dayton Daily News analysis of data maintained by the Center for Responsive Politics found that southwest Ohio cities and counties have paid K Street lobbyists more than $400,000 so far this year, and more than half a million dollars in 2011.

What entity is the biggest spender locally and how much will they pay a lobbyist this year? Where do many lobbyist come from?

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