Noting a lack of pressing legislative issues, commissioners vote 4-3 against keeping her on board.
By SHANNON TAN
Published September 4, 2003
LARGO - City commissioners narrowly decided not to rehire former Secretary of State Sandra Mortham as their lobbyist for the upcoming legislative session.
Commissioners voted 4-3 Tuesday night not to set aside $25,000 to pay Mortham, who has lobbied for the city in Tallahassee for the past two years.
The city has spent $100,000 over that time to hire Mortham, who focused on obtaining a $500,000 state grant for the new $21-million Largo Library.
That grant was approved in June.
But with no specific legislative issues on the horizon, commissioners hesitated footing her bill again.
Commissioners Jean Halvorsen, Harriet Crozier and Charlie Harper voted to rehire Mortham.
"We do have a big issue in Tallahassee, and that's annexation," said Halvorsen. "I truly believe that we need this. It's always good to have a pair of ears in Tallahassee."
But other commissioners pointed to a tight budget - and having to cut positions and services - as a reason not to engage Mortham's services in 2004.
Commissioner Pat Burke noted that "$25,000 could put someone back on the payroll."
Commissioner Pat Gerard, who said Mortham did a "wonderful job" for the city, agreed that it was not worth spending that money this year.
If the city decides it needs a lobbyist, "there are other lobbying firms in Tallahassee," she said.
Mortham, a former Florida secretary of state and Largo city commissioner, did not return calls seeking comment.
Before becoming secretary of state, Mortham represented Largo in the Legislature and was House Republican leader in the early 1990s. This year she worked as a legislative lobbyist for the Florida Medical Association.
