Lobby: To conduct activities aimed at influencing public officials and especially members of a legislative body on legislation; to promote or secure the passage of (as legislation) by influencing public officials; to attempt to influence or sway (as a public official) toward a desired action.
--Mirriam-Webster Online
Determined to get beyond water-cooler chatter, we set out to interview lobbyists about public attitudes toward their industry. Certainly there was no shortage of knee-jerk opinions. “Lobbyists? Aw, they're just special-interest hired guns, for rent to the highest bidder.”
Like most disciplines, there are a few flawed apples in every barrel. But we wanted facts to go with a multi-million dollar industry in Alaska. We interviewed high-profile lobbyists, as well as those with a single client or a cause with a personal agenda.
The rules were simple - in fact there was only one: everything was “on background,” meaning we could use everything said without attribution. Neither those interviewed nor their clients could be in the context of an opinion.
Some lobbyists said they wouldn't participate if they were to be identified. Others, not surprisingly, might have been inclined to pontificate if identified.
We interviewed currently registered and active Alaska lobbyists. We've combined their collective opinions and responses.
Q. Who do the lobbying pros consider the most effective lobbyists in Alaska?
The names from a dozen of their peers, in alphabetical order: Frank Bickford, Kent Dawson, Bob Evans, Joe Hayes, Kim Hutchinson, Sam Kito, Ashley Reed, Jerry Reinwand, Paul Richards, Reed Stoops and John Walsh. Several praised Al Adams for carving out a unique way of soliciting and serving clients exclusively in his own region of Northwest Alaska.
Q. Define “most effective.”
The dollar amount of fees from clients were dismissed as of little value in defining effectiveness as a lobbyist. Relationships trump everything, resulting in the ability to affect pro or con action on legislation. Lobbyists provide some of the system's lubrication, bringing people together as part of the process. The good ones make it easier to bring people together. The public is wrong in that being a successful lobbyist involves “scoring” or “smiling.” “It isn't the talker, it's the teacher able to isolate issues. It's all about honor, giving your word and admitting mistakes. It's a combination of ability and willingness to work hard. Again, income is not a direct sign of ability, and it's even less important as a focus of success.
Q. Why do lobbyists believe the public has inaccurate perceptions about lobbyists?
It's painful for us to recognize, but a lot of the public assumes that being “most influential” also means we're inherently evil. And when they read every day about convicted people like Tom Delay, Jack Abramahof, Bill Allen, Tom Anderson and Vic Kohring, you can't really blame people for lumping us all together. Are these stories a surprise? I know all the Alaska players and I'm disappointed in them. They forgot about the best interests of Alaskans. When I first heard, I thought, Aw, s---, that so 'n so isn't capable of guilt. Too often, public perceptions are unfair and simplistic with little understanding of simply being advocates for a cause.
Q. Did the FBI investigations and convictions surprise you?
Some of this involves perceptions, private prison stuff and there were things that weren't quite right. Given all that was at stake in the oil and gas fight, there were lots of loose ends and interaction between some business interests. When the oil fight became more prominent some of those same things began to take place because some of the same people were involved. A lot of lines got very blurred about what was acceptable. I was surprised by the scale of the investigation - about a few thousand bucks. These guys are more about character defects than attempts to become wealthy.
Q. Your advice to become a successful lobbyist in Alaska?
You have to have a love of politics and have the ability to read people and count votes. It's definitely not all glamour. You must have at least an anchor client and the competition is intense. When you win a new client, somebody probably just lost one. The economics can be tough, not everybody has a BP expense account. It is hard work, long hours and little respect, but always know they are helping to make Alaska the best state in the union. I would also tell them to try to work as a staff person in Washington, D.C., get a degree in law or political science and volunteer to campaign for an elected official or work for a governor to gain experience in the process to be a good lobbyist. Knowing how things work is the best approach to getting a lobbying contract. Experience is so important. Lobbying goes back to President Grant in the Willard Hotel following the civil war and has not changed much since. People representing business to get contracts to help the economy.
Q. Any lobbying words of wisdom?
To quote former U.S. Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle: “Counting of noses and the winning of votes is one of the more elusive political arts. It happens one on one in private. It requires skills too subtle for most politicians, notably, the divining of individual temperaments as opposed to the harvesting of vast pubic moods.”
Joe Holbert is a longtime Juneau resident and journalist.
