LV will retain lobbyist firms

Adrienne Packer

Thursday, June 8, 2000 | 11:25 a.m.

Despite serious questions related to the effectiveness of two high-priced lobbyist firms that represent Las Vegas in Washington, D.C., the City Council on Wednesday decided to stick with the companies until November.

But the decision did not come without opposition.

After the vote, Councilman Michael Mack, who led the effort to oust the two firms, challenged lobbyists Alcalde & Fay and US Strategies to prove their critics wrong. Mack favored hiring the well-respected firm Cassidy & Associates.

"Show us the money," Mack said, playing off a line made famous three years ago in the movie "Jerry McGwire." Las Vegas is not getting its fair share of federal funds because the two firms are not doing their jobs, he said.

The council voted 6-0 to terminate the contracts of US Strategies and Alcalde & Fay on Nov. 1, then issued a request for proposals for the federal lobbying contract. The city has spent $164,000 a year on the contract; US Strategies is paid $96,000 annually and Alcalde and Fay make $68,000 a year.

Mayor Oscar Goodman abstained from the vote because his campaign leader, Tom Letizia, recently joined Alcalde & Fay.

Mack triggered the discussion about a new lobbyist after a recent visit to Washington. He is concerned that the two firms weren't effective in securing federal money for housing, transportation and flood programs.

"We're talking trillions of dollars," Mack said. "We want to make sure Las Vegas residents are getting as large a piece of the pie as they deserve. Tough decisions have to be made."

Mack also said having two lobbyists confuses matters because they interfere with each other and each take credit for any victory. However, after expressing his concerns, Mack made his motion to hire Cassidy. The motion did not include dropping the other two lobbying firms, which meant there would have been three.

Councilwoman Lynette Boggs McDonald said she used her investigative reporting skills from her Associated Press days to determine which lobbying firm was most respected around the country. She said she spoke to government officials with various states who each offered the same opinion.

"The people who were clearly objective stated that Cassidy and Associates, given the choice presented to us, was far superior," Boggs McDonald said.

The council agreed that some of the troubles US Strategies and Alcalde & Fay are having could be the city's fault. The council has never given the two lobbyists clear direction or set priorities.

"We've never put a priority list together," Councilman Lawrence Weekly said. "We've never given them a fair shot."

Councilman Michael McDonald disclosed that although the two firms have contracts with Las Vegas Color Graphics where he is employed, neither is his client. He said "threats or comments" had been made to him about the lobbyist position, but he supported staying with US Strategies and Alcalde & Fay.

Clark County Commissioner Dario Herrera's public relations firm is working with Cassidy & Associates. Herrera and McDonald have never been political allies.

McDonald emphasized the importance of waiting until the end of November -- when Congress is breaking and a new administration will be in place -- to hire a new firm.

"At the end of the cycle we should analyze what direction the council wants to go and what team it wants to go with," McDonald said.