Process for hiring lobbying firm draws criticism at Dougherty County Commission meeting
Dougherty County Commissioner Russell Gray, left, sits alongside Commissioner Gloria Gaines at a Monday meeting. Gray criticized the process used to select a lobbying firm to represent the county during the meeting.
Staff Photo: Alan [email protected]://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/f714026fc83d6150ab9a4350b4169940?s=100&d=mm&r=gBy Alan Mauldin
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ALBANY – A proposal to switch firms providing lobbying services for Dougherty County drew criticism from one commission member on Monday, as Commissioner Russell Gray objected to the process of the selection.
The decision on whether to contract with GeorgiaLink Public Affairs Group could be voted on later this month.
The contract is for a one-year term at a cost of $300,000, or $25,000 per month over the 12 months. Under the contract, the company would provide government relations services at the state level and through a second company at the federal level.
Initially Gray objected to the topic being placed on the agenda, stating there had been no previous discussion on the merits of lobbying firms.
“Some decision has been made by a person or persons,” he said. “That has not been done in an open meeting. We should all want collaboration.
“I, for one, and I’m certain Commissioner (Ed) Newsome and Commissioner (Anthony) Jones would agree they haven’t had a chance to speak with anybody about this firm. We haven’t done this as a board. I have an issue where we don’t do this transparently as a board.”
Jones was not present at Monday’s meeting, and Newsome, who attended via the internet, did not comment on the issue.
The proposed contract is $10,000 more per month than that with current lobbyist Cornerstone Public Affairs, Gray said. The two firms appear to be equally qualified, as determined by their rankings.
Commission Chairman Lorenzo Heard disputed Gray’s statement that commissioners were in the dark and that he had shared his concern in October 2023 about the current firm.
“I said let’s consider,” he said. “Nothing is final until Monday. They’ve got a date set (for a vote), but nothing is set.
“If (commissioners) have a concern … y’all are absolutely welcome to call me. My number hasn’t changed in three years. If you’ve got a concern, don’t call another commissioner, call me. I have taken everybody’s calls who has called me thus far.”
The chairman also discussed what he likes about GeorgiaLink.
“This group is talking about coming down,” he said. “They’re talking about giving a presentation like Mrs. (Jana) Dyke (the Albany Dougherty Economic Development Commission president/CEO) has done. They’re talking about quarterly reports in writing. I think they will work harder to get some real money.”
The reference to Dyke was about about a presentation she gave earlier during the Monday meeting.
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