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Tampa considers hiring a lobbyist for Washington

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By CHRISTIAN M. WADE | The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 10, 2009

TAMPA - Hoping to increase Tampa's share of federal stimulus funding for infrastructure upgrades and other needs, city officials are considering hiring a Washington lobbyist.

Darrell Smith, Mayor Pam Iorio's chief of staff, said a professional consulting firm could boost the city's influence in the Beltway and help win much-needed federal dollars to pay for a exhaustive list of capital improvement projects that the city can't afford right now.

"There's a lot of money coming out of Washington and we feel that hiring a lobbyist would increase our chances of bringing some of those funds home," he said.

On their own, the city hasn't had much luck reeling in federal dollars. Out of $695 million requested, the city has received only about $7 million.

The city earmarked $120,000 for a full-time federal lobbyist in the fiscal 2010 budget, Smith said, and officials have interviewed at least one consulting firm, K&L Gates, a global lobbying firm with offices in North America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East, according to the company's corporate Website.

Smith said the city hasn't decided who to hire. "We're still weighing our options," he said.

Tampa would join a growing number of local governments that have turned to federal lobbyists, even as the worst economic recession in a generation has forced layoffs, budget shortfalls and declining property-tax revenues.

City officials said they believe the return is worth the investment.

"If we spend $120,000 a year on a lobbyist who brings back $20 or $30 million in federal funds for the city, then it would more than pay for itself," said Councilman Tom Scott.

Lobbying firms typically include a team of lawyers, former congressional aides and even former lawmakers who know key decision makers and how to land federal earmarks.

Hiring a lobbyist would require city council approval and several council members said they support the move, provided that the city gets a good return on its investment.

Councilwoman Linda Saul-Sena, for one, is a longtime proponent of lobbying efforts.

"We need to be going after those federal dollars," she said. "The legislative process is complicated and it's absolutely critical the city of Tampa have someone up there."

Some big cities like New York City, Los Angeles and Miami have full-time lobbyists on staff. Smaller cities like Clearwater, Orlando, Jacksonville and Tallahassee, contract with private consulting firms to lobby for both state and federal funding.

St. Petersburg has a full-time lobbyist who is paid $65,000 to lobby state and federal government officials. Hillsborough County has two lobbyists and retains an outside firm. The county spends about $250,000 combined to lobby on a state and federal level.

Nationwide, states and localities are projected to spend a combined $83.1 million this year on Washington lobbyists, according to the Washington, D.C.-based watchdog group, Center for Responsive Politics. That compared to $38.5 million in 2001.

Over the years, Tampa has used both private and in-house lobbyists and currently spends about $200,000 a year to lobby state officials. Most of that money is paid to the William J. Peebles law firm in Tallahassee to lobby lawmakers and the governor's office on issues such as property tax reforms and transportation.

The city also pays a part-time consultant $15,000 a year to track federal energy issues and identify potential funding sources.

Reporter Christian M. Wade can be reached at (813) 259-7679.

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