She was co-founder and Director of External Affairs for Issue One, a nonprofit whose goal is to reduce the influence of money in politics.

[2] Lawton was a commissioner on the 1997 "Citizens Panel on a Clean Elections Option" that was formed due to the "growing perception of corruption" within the political system.

The panel outlined a public policy plan for full-public financing of political campaigns that would "pass constitutional muster."

[3] As lieutenant governor, Lawton took on many issues, most related to economic development, climate change, and campaign reform.

In 2007, Lawton authored and passed the Energy Independence and Climate Protection Resolution at the National Lieutenant Governors Association.

A 2006 editorial in the Madison, Wisconsin daily The Capital Times called Lawton "the boldest and most active lieutenant governor in state history".

[4] Barbara Lawton was unanimously elected Chairwoman of the National Lieutenant Governor's Association (NLGA) at their 2008 annual meeting in Buffalo, NY.

[5] In September 2008, as Chairwoman of the NLGA, Lawton had traveled on a mission to China along with Lt. Governors from Alabama, Connecticut, Kansas and Nevada.

"[9] On January 6, 2014, Lawton was named the President and CEO of Americans for Campaign Reform, an advocacy organization based in Washington D.C. chaired by former Senators Bill Bradley (D-NJ), Bob Kerrey (D-NE), and Alan Simpson (R-WY).