Commissioner Murman quoted in this Tampa Bay Times article on county lobbyist reform:
Hillsborough Commissioner Sandy Murman calls for a crackdown on lobbying
Wednesday, September 23, 2015 2:02pm
TAMPA — Amid an investigation into whether influence played a role in the awarding of a Go Hillsborough contract, the head of the Hillsborough County Commission says it’s time to crack down on lobbying “loopholes.”
Commissioner and Chairwoman Sandy Murman announced Wednesday that she will propose a new department, the Office of Professional Lobbyist Registration, to monitor lobbying. Murman also vowed to tighten rules for who is permitted to lobby.
“Recent events call for higher standards, greater accountability and new rules to protect the public,” Murman said in a news release. She expects to put her plan before the commission at its Oct. 7 meeting.
The proposal is in response to the controversy surrounding a contract awarded to engineering firm Parsons Brinckerhoff to conduct public outreach for Go Hillsborough, the county’s transportation initiative. County Administrator Mike Merrill has asked Sheriff David Gee to investigate whether that $1.35 million deal was influenced by Parsons’ hiring of Beth Leytham, a Tampa public relations consultant with close ties to several commissioners, as a subcontractor.
A review of the deal earlier this year by the county’s internal auditor found the contract was awarded legally.
One of the most notable proposed changes to the lobbying rules is that electronic communications by a person paid to represent a company or issue would be considered lobbying. The current Hillsborough County ordinance, last altered in 2007, defines lobbying simply as “meeting privately with affected personnel,” which would likely exempt text messages and emails.
It’s a key designation and it’s especially relevant to the ongoing controversy that has rocked Hillsborough County Center. Leytham has maintained that she is not a lobbyist and did no lobbying, in part because any communications she had with county staff or commissioners before Parsons was awarded the contract were sent electronically.
“If you are being paid by someone else, and advocate a position that benefits them, that should be reported,” Murman said.
For years, lobbying has been a self-policed endeavor. Lobbyists are supposed to sign a registry in the reception areas of the County Commission, administrator, attorney or other departments when they meet with officials and staff. If the meeting takes place off-site, the lobbyist is supposed to notify the clerk of the Board of County Commissioners within seven days.
It’s a loosely maintained system that rarely, if ever, results in punishment if not followed.
“This office has not had any violation in regards to the lobbying ordinance in many, many years,” said Mary Helen Ferris with the county attorney’s office.
Murman would continue to put the onus on lobbyists to self-report but it would be electronic and submitted to a public online database. Any contact with elected officials or staff must be reported, according to Murman’s release.
Commissioner Ken Hagan said Murman’s proposal had merit.
But he also wondered if it would be hard to pin down a definition of lobbying that won’t ensnare residents.
“That’s always been one of the challenges,” he said. “The argument can be made that someone approaching an elected official at Publix to weigh in on an issue is lobbying. Where is that line drawn?”
Contact Steve Contorno at scontorno@tampabay.com. Follow @scontorno.
