Although somewhat obscured by the more than 90-minute discussion they had on the Go Hillsborough initiative, the Board of County Commissioners on Wednesday unanimously supported a proposal by Chairwoman Sandy Murman aimed at bringing more transparency to lobbying in the county.
The measure calls for the County Attorney’s office to draft an ordinance that will create a system requiring lobbyists to register when they visit with county officials or staff, with that information then being posted online.
Still to be determined is who actually is a lobbyist.
Murman’s proposal was developed in the wake of the allegations of cronyism in the procurement of Parsons Brinckerhoff as consultant to work on the Go Hillsborough transportation effort. A blockbuster report by WTSP-Channel inferred that public relations consultant Beth Leytham used her influence to help get Parsons the contract. Leytham was then hired as a subcontractor for Parsons.
However, Leytham says she is not a lobbyist, so it’s unclear if the proposed reforms in any way address any of the issues resulting from the Go Hillsborough fallout.
“Recent events call for higher standards, greater accountability and new rules to protect the public,” Murman said last month when she first proposed her plan. “Lobbyists and special interests will now be required to register, review and sign a set of guidelines from the County Attorney, and report any contact they make with elected officials or staff.”
Lobbyists are supposed to register when they visit the County Center right now, but officials say that hasn’t been monitored very closely.
Commissioners Kevin Beckner and Les Miller said that everyone who visits commissioners, and not just lobbyists, should have to sign the registry. But Murman knocked down that idea.
