Commissioner Murman quoted in this 10 News article about lobbyist reform in county:
10 Investigates prompts major lobbyist reform proposal
Noah Pransky, WTSP
3:16 p.m. EDT September 23, 2015
TAMPA, Florida – A week after the Hillsborough Board of County Commissioners ordered an audit of a county contract scrutinized by 10 Investigates for possible influence by a well-connected consultant, the commission chair proposed Wednesday sweeping reforms to the county’s lobbying laws to prevent a repeat occurrence.
The 10 Investigates report into local public relations consultant Beth Leytham revealed she may have improperly lobbied county commissioners and staff members prior to the awarding of a lucrative public outreach contract for the transportation initiative now known as “Go Hillsborough.” The deal, which has ballooned in cost to $1.35 million, was awarded to Leytham’s team without ever going out to a bid.
10 Investigates also reported last week that Hillsborough County doesn’t enforce its lobbying regulations.
Hillsborough County Commission Chairwoman Sandy Murman said Wednesday she plans to ask the county attorney’s office to draft an ordinance aimed at cleaning up “the murky practice of lobbying the Hillsborough County Commission.”
Murman’s “Greater Accountability Plan” calls for the creation of an Office of Professional Lobbyist Registration under the county attorney. She also proposes keeping lobbyist registries online for any citizen to review. Currently, they are only aggregated digitally every three months.
“This is not geared toward any one particular person or people at all,” Murman said. “This is a guideline that I have wanted to establish for a long time that’s very similar to Tallahassee.”
But, Murman, a former Florida House Ethics Chair, acknowledged “the timing was right” and “timing is everything.”
ALSO READ: Hillsborough Sheriff to investigate Go Hillsborough
“Recent events call for higher standards, greater accountability and new rules to protect the public,” Murman added in a press release. “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.”
The county’s current lobbying rules already require lobbyists to register contact with elected officials and staff, but county administrator Mike Merrill said, “we are not the lobby police.” Murman’s plan could help create an enforcement office.
Interestingly enough, Murman was one of the commissioners tied to Leytham’s behind-the-scenes influence during the procurement of the Go Hillsborough contract. But she has tried to put distance between herself and Leytham, whom she referred to as a friend. Murman also said Leytham had never lobbied her.
WATCH: How politicians react to questions about Leytham
The lobbying reforms would require “professionally-paid lobbyists” to list any and all clients they represent before the county. However, Leytham told 10 Investigates she wasn’t paid to lobby, and therefore didn’t have to register. Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn and Commissioner Hagan, whom Leytham advises politically, both supported her claim.
But Murman’s press release said, “The definition of a lobbyist and who is permitted to lobby will be tightened to end ambiguity and close loopholes.”
“If you are being paid by someone else, and advocate a position or process that benefits them, that should be reported,” Murman said in the press release. “It is my hope that these efforts will make our county process more transparent and allow the public to see how special interests, profit or non-profit, affect their local government.”
Murman will make the request of the county attorney at the next BOCC meeting on Oct. 7.
TAMPA BAY TIMES: County must clear the air after 10 Investigates report
Initial reaction from ethics watchdogs was positive.
“We applaud the effort to close the loopholes in Hillsborough County’s lobbying registration law,” said Ben Wilcox, Research Director for Tallahassee-based nonprofit Integrity Florida. “The law should be clear about who is required to register and it should be enforced so the public can see who is trying to influence public policy.”
