Doña Ana County hires lobbyist to work in Washington

By Diana M. Alba Sun-News reporter
Article Launched: 05/29/2008 12:00:00 AM MDT

LAS CRUCES — Doña Ana County will soon have a lobbyist in Washington, D.C.

The county commission on Wednesday voted 4-1 to award a bid for a lobbying firm to the Washington-based Van Scoyoc Associates. The firm will be paid $60,000 for one year with a possibility the contract can be extended.

Five other firms submitted bid proposals.

County Commissioner Oscar Vásquez-Butler said he favors hiring a lobbyist on the federal level because several key funding pools to the county are facing curtailment.

"What we need is somebody there constantly, lobbying in support of these particular funding programs that are being cut back," he said. "That's what we're paying for, somebody to be there 24-7."

But County Commissioner Bill McCamley voted against the measure, saying he didn't feel it would be a good use of county dollars. Though he backed a lobbyist on the state level, he said he doesn't believe a lobbyist on the federal level will be as effective.

"It just doesn't seem that it works from a cost-benefit perspective," he said. "It just seems like, to be fiscally responsible, we need to use it on things like roads, to use it on things like health care."

McCamley said other organizations the county pays membership dues to, including the National Association of Counties, should be the county's lobbying voice in Washington.

Steven O. Palmer, vice president with Van Scoyoc Associates, addressed the commission, saying that, in addition to seeking funding for the county, his firm would keep an eye on grant programs and policymaking.

"It's not just earmarks, discretionary grants," he said. "It's about helping the county understand what's going on in Washington."

Some county department directors spoke in favor of hiring a lobbyist because of the impact policy changes could have on federal dollars to the county.

County Commission Chairman Kent Evans said he initially didn't support a state-level lobbyist, but has since realized the benefits of having one. He said a federal lobbyist would benefit the county similarly.

"This is something we need," he said. "I think it can be very useful. I would like to see this be a very good relationship."

County Commissioner Dolores Saldaña-Caviness said she doesn't believe the Rio Grande Council of Governments, an El Paso-based organization that has emphasized lobbying, is representing Doña Ana County well. The county pays membership dues to the council.

"I'm going to support this today," she said.


Diana M. Alba can be reached at dalba@lcsun-news.com

http://www.lcsun-news.com/news/ci_9409833