County approves lobbyists - News

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Jul. 16, 2008
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

County approves lobbyists

Two will represent interests of panel, District Court judges

By SCOTT WYLAND
REVIEW-JOURNAL

Two hired guns will lobby on behalf of Clark County government and District Court judges at a combined cost of about $220,000 yearly.

Clark County commissioners Tuesday awarded Dan Hart & Associates a one-year, $102,000 contract to lobby for the county.

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Then they approved paying $10,000 a month to lobbyist Rick Loop, who will represent District Court judges for 15 months.

The lobbyists were hired the day after Assemblywoman Marilyn Kirkpatrick, D-North Las Vegas, announced that if re-elected, she would draft a bill barring local governments from using tax dollars to pay outside lobbyists.

"We have qualified staff people," Kirkpatrick said. "Why aren't we working with them?"

A few commissioners said they were aware of Kirkpatrick's plans. They expressed mixed sentiments.

Commissioner Rory Reid said he might back the ban on lobbyists as long as it applied to all local governments.

"I don't think lobbyists are necessary," Reid said. "They certainly are a part of the landscape of what happens at the Legislature."

But Commissioner Tom Collins argued that professional lobbyists can bring a political savvy to the Legislature that county staffers might lack. In fact, the county is so big and diverse, it needs multiple lobbyists to protect its interests, Collins said.

In the state's current budget crisis, he said, "the state supposedly is coming after our revenue."

Kirkpatrick contends that the handsome salaries paid to lobbyists could be spent on essential services as well as recreation, parks and other things that enhance the quality of life for residents.

"Think about the dollars we could be putting back into local transportation," Kirkpatrick said.

Both Reid and Commissioner Chip Maxfield mentioned before they approved Hart's contract that he had worked on their election campaigns. They first disclosed this past working relationship at a June 3 meeting in which they recommended Hart for the position.

Collins said the way the county screened candidates was biased, flawed and a "poster child" for Kirkpatrick's anti-lobbyist cause. City staff had their preferences and county commissioners had theirs, muddying the process, he said.

Commissioner Chris Giunchigliani, who voted against hiring the lobbyists, agreed with Kirkpatrick.

"I think in the long run it is a waste of money," Giunchigliani said.

A former assemblywoman, Giunchigliani said a lobbyist who works for a local government spends a lot of time tracking bills, hardly the kind of work that justifies a six-figure salary.

Contact reporter Scott Wyland at swyland@reviewjournal.com or 702-455-4519.

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Please enter your name Name: Please enter your email Email: Please enter a comment COMMENTS : (word count limit is 300) You have reached the maximum number of words allowed Current Word Count: Note: Comments made by reporters and editors of the Las Vegas Review-Journal are presented with a yellow background. BM wrote on September 26, 2008 11:38 AM: It would seem that Tom Collins is totally lacking in honesty based on the issues. Just look at the article Lobbyists flout rules in talks with commissioners to see Tom's response. "Tom has already stated to residents of Logandale and Moapa that they do not matter in the general scheme of things. Tom has stated the people of North Las Vegas, Mesquite, and the City of Las Vegas are all the he cares about in the current election. Tom went on to further state these residents are stupid and will vote for him without even thinking." Tom is currently running on the same campaign as he did in 2002 for the Assembly, including signs, issues etc. A Stake!(SPECIAL INTEREST)He clams up when someone of Leadership Quality ask him a question on his record. Tom is not a leader - look at his record. Emma wrote on July 16, 2008 12:53 PM: Lenny - I believe she is her daughter. Dan - Didn't Commissioners Herrera, Kenny, Malone, etc also engage in votes that were "transparent?" tim wrote on July 16, 2008 11:01 AM: here is a reason marilyn,because elected officials turn lazy and incompetent once they have been in office to long,qualified staff,that's a good one,ha,ha,you got me.rory maybe you should tell your daddy what you said,i'm sure he would send you to your room for lying.oh,wait he lies too. Dan Kulin wrote on July 16, 2008 10:04 AM: To clarify the county's process for hiring a lobbyist: In March, the county received proposals from six firms interested in being Clark County's contract lobbyist through the 2009 Legislative session. County staff reviewed and evaluated those proposals, much like any professional service, and determined that five of the six firms have the expertise the county needs. The five firms endorsed by staff were forwarded to the County Commission. The Commissioners are all veterans of the legislative process and have professional experience with lobbying firms that make them particularly qualified to know which of the firms endorsed by staff would be best for the county. During the June 3 board meeting, which of course was open to the public, the commissioners discussed and debated the merits of the qualified firms before making their selection and instructing staff to negotiate a contract with the firm selected. The discussion and decision was written about and further debated by the media. During the board meeting on Tuesday, again an open meeting, the commissioners again discussed and debated the matter before voting to approve the contract. In the end, this process was open, fair and transparent and designed to yield a lobbyist who will work to protect the interests of Clark County and its taxpayers. Dan Kulin Public Information Officer Clark County Lenny wrote on July 16, 2008 09:28 AM: Emma, is Marilyn Dondero Loop related to University Regent and former County Commissioner Thalia Dondero? Cheap Skate wrote on July 16, 2008 08:23 AM: "But Commissioner Tom Collins argued that professional lobbyists can bring a political savvy to the Legislature that county staffers might lack." Okay, how about you, Tom, or you, Rory et.al., since you have demonstrated "political savy" and since you're on the payroll already, why don't you "lobby" your compatriots? b wrote on July 16, 2008 07:39 AM: It´s just to bad we can´t have a class action suit and have the elected officials that back this kind of stupid expenditure pay us back from their own pockets. Just another reqason why one term and one term only needs to take place starting this coming election, no more career criminals(politicians) Emma wrote on July 16, 2008 06:32 AM: Rick Loop is married to Assembly candidate Marilyn Dondero Loop, who is running with the backing of Marilyn Kirkpatrick's Democratic Caucus. Does anyone not see the irony of this? BR wrote on July 16, 2008 06:24 AM: Those lobbyist are just doing the job public employees won't do. Yeah, the phrase is getting overused, but it sure fits this situation.