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Tampa may hire lobbyist to woo stimulus dollars

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By CHRISTIAN M. WADE

cwade@tampatrib.com

Published: November 11, 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 an 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.

Tampa 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 Web site.

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 think the return is worth the investment.

"If we spend $120,000 a year on a lobbyist who brings back $20 (million) or $30 million in federal funds for the city, then it would more than pay for itself," Councilman Tom Scott said.
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 members said they support the move, provided the city gets its money's worth.

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."

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.

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

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

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