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County approves money for lobbyist

By By DEBORAH BUCKHALTER Floridan Staff Writer
Published: February 11, 2009

Jackson County Commissioners have tentatively agreed to join a regional lobbying effort to bring federal stimulus money to North Florida.
The board voted to set aside up to $20,000 to join other participating counties in paying the lobbyist. But, the county’s participation hinges on the condition that it is satisfied with the action plan when its done.
Commissioner Dr. Willie Spires is to be the board’s liaison with the firm putting the plan together.
Their decision is similar to action taken by commissioners in coastal Gulf County. That body retained Governance Services LLC, and in a letter to Jackson County, wrote that the company’s job is “to assist us in forming a regional coalition, assist in the analysis and packaging of the project list, and to advocate for its behalf on the federal and state levels.”
Gulf County will be asking several other counties in the region to join the coalition, and Jackson County is the first to come on board.
Former Tallahassee Mayor Scott Maddox, now working with Governance Services LLC, made his company’s pitch to the commission at their regular meeting Tuesday.
A regional approach, Maddox said, could strengthen the area’s position as hundreds of communities and governmental entities across the country get in line for a piece of the pie.
Spires said he anticipates that municipalities in Jackson County will be approached to participate in the effort as well, and that he hopes they will agree to pay a share of the $20,000 that the county commission has tentatively agreed to contribute on behalf of the local community.