Citrus County will keep a lobbyist in Tallahassee, even when the Legislature is adjourned on March 9, 2012.

County Administrator Brad Thorpe told county commissioners on Tuesday that he had received letters from the legal firm representing the county now and that the firm offered to "keep the pilot light burning" for $3,000 per month.

Only commissioner Winn Webb opposed continuing with a county lobbyist in Tallahassee. In a 4-1 vote, however, his viewpoint was ignored by four other commissioners.

On Feb. 23, the commission voted unanimously to pursue the Port Citrus project, and to hire a lobbyist, for up to $50,000 per year to make it happen, given the short fuse actionable items can be processed in the Legislature. Two lobbyists and county's legislative delegation worked to amend two state statutes to list Citrus County as an established port.

Webb said that, given the county's trouble with shortages in its budget, that it would not be a good time to pay the lobbying firm $3,000 per month. "We have two senators and a state representative members already in Tallahassee," Webb said.

Commissioner Dennis Damato disagreed. "We need eyes and ears in Tallahassee," he said. Commissioner Rebecca Bays said that it is a prudent time to follow issues pertaining to agriculture, tourism and construction - all of which are part of the county's economic picture. "We need to make sure legislature doesn't keep rolling the ball down to the local governments. They need to know we're here and that we're watching," Bays said.

Commissioner J.J. Kenney said he saw a lobbyist as just "another tool" in the county's "toolbox" to take care of the county's economic direction. Commissioner Joe Meek said that Port Citrus legislation and transportation corridor issues need to be watched, and that the county needed an "advocate" for its causes.

The five-month lobbying contract, which will began on Dec. 1, will end on April 31, 2012. The law firm of Pennington, Moore, Wilkinson, Bell & Dunbar will perform "monitoring and reporting services." That will include, a law firm letter to the County Administrator Brad Thorpe says, transportation corridor legislation, port-related issues, local government pension legislation, redistricting debates in relation to the county and growth management initiatives.

SO YOU KNOW:

• Earlier discussion about lobbying and Port Citrus
• Letters from lobbyist firms to Citrus County (PDF download)