House Speaker Johnnie Byrd is hitting them up for money in hopes of keeping his U.S. Senate campaign viable.
By STEVE BOUSQUET
Published September 23, 2003
TALLAHASSEE - As he runs for a seat in the U.S. Senate, House Speaker Johnnie Byrd is seeking help from those who need him most: lobbyists who depend on the goodwill of Florida lawmakers.
Byrd needs to raise money to show credibility alongside rivals such as former U.S. Rep. Bill McCollum, who has been in the race a lot longer and claimed Monday to have reached the $1-million plateau. In a wide open Republican primary that includes U.S. Rep. Dave Weldon and state Sen. Dan Webster, money is a sign of viability.
Byrd has much more sway over lobbyists than Webster because, as speaker, he controls the flow of legislation, refers bills to committees and decides which bills reach the floor for votes.
Some lobbyists said the Plant City lawmaker called them directly, and repeatedly, to seek personal contributions (clients' corporate money is not allowed in federal campaigns). Some lobbyists said yes, some said no, and others don't closely follow U.S. Senate races.
"He asked me to put some checks together, and he offered to meet with my clients," said lobbyist Ron Book, who has one of the Capitol's longest client lists. "I'll be putting some money together for the speaker."
Brian Ballard, a lobbyist whose health care clients had good success in the House in 2003, said he plans to help Byrd. "I'm probably going to write him a personal check," Ballard said.
Byrd said he hopes to have at least $300,000 in hand by Sept. 30, the end of the reporting period.
"We're just working hard," Byrd said last week between handshakes at a fundraiser at a Tallahassee restaurant, Chez Pierre. "I haven't really come up for air."
Byrd is holding fundraisers all over the state, including a luncheon today at the Tampa Club in downtown Tampa. His friend and former legislative aide, lobbyist Michael Corcoran, is helping Byrd raise money, as is Bridgette Gregory, who was an aide to former House Speaker Tom Feeney.
Lobbyist Curt Kiser, a former state senator from Dunedin, turned Byrd down.
Kiser said Byrd called him to talk about a House study, initiated by Byrd, of moving legal notices from newspapers to the Internet. The idea is opposed by one of Kiser's clients, the Florida Press Association.
"In the course of talking about that, he said, "I've got a fundraiser coming up, and I was hoping you could help me out,' " Kiser recalled. Kiser said he told Byrd he would talk to some clients, but he was personally committed to Webster, a friend and former House colleague whom he has known for more than two decades.
Kiser said Byrd did not make any legislation contingent on support, but he said lobbyists are aware of the potential for "pressure."
"I don't know that there's any way to avoid it," Kiser said. "The real question is the judgment the person uses, how they ask for the help, when they ask for the help and how they conduct themselves. In Speaker Byrd's case, we really don't know yet which people are going to be on a black list versus the No. 1 list."
Byrd got into the race in mid July. Webster joined the race close to Labor Day. Webster's spokeswoman, Kathy Mears, said his fundraising won't gear up until next month.
A couple of lobbyists said they would give equally to Byrd and Webster, who has been in the Legislature more than three times as long as Byrd, and will continue to exert influence in the state Senate next year.
Chuck Hinson, who lobbies for TECO Energy among others, took a $500 personal check to Byrd's Tallahassee fundraiser. He said he would give the same to Webster. Hinson cited "the longstanding working relationships and respect for them as elected officials."
"We can't ignore the fact that Webster's going to be in the Senate next year, and Byrd's going to be in the speaker's office, regardless of what happens," lobbyist Bob Levy said.
Florida lawmakers are constantly asking lobbyists for money. But as a federal candidate, Byrd cannot accept corporate contributions, so a lobbyist's check might signal personal support.
Lobbyist Ken Plante said he told Byrd he couldn't be much help. "I told him I had very few clients that played on the federal level," said Plante, who represents community colleges, insurance adjusters, optometrists and Tampa Bay Downs, among others.
