Abstract

When making energy policy decisions for their jurisdictions, do city council members consult experts? If so, what types of experts do they listen to, and are these decisions based on party and ideology? This article investigates the factors that affect the types of experts city council members seek out to make these decisions. This study is based on previous research on the congressional committee hearing system that tells us elected officials listen to experts who reinforce their own policy stances. Using original survey data of Colorado city council members, this article finds limited evidence that council members rely on different experts based on party and ideology but stronger evidence that the desire to reinforce policy positions influences expert preference. Further analysis in the form of case studies shows politics is at work; political ideology and party makeup of the council, as well as the city, affect who the council members consult when making energy policy decisions.