City's Lobbyist Search Uncloaks Wide Fee Structure

Reliability. Integrity. Decorum.

Nine firms who applied for a two-plus year lobbying contract with the City of Stamford presented themselves as pillars of essentially the same values. In neatly printed letters, accompanied by lobbyists’ résumés, each promised to be a diligent, honorable servant in persuading policymakers on the city’s behalf.

But from the Stamford proposals, it’s clear not everyone puts the same price tag on their work. Not even close.

City Needs

The customer in this case, Stamford, has a legislative agenda that includes getting more state money for education and transportation projects, and solving its blackout-susceptible electricity infrastructure. Coming off a one-year contract with Elizabeth “Betsy” Gara and Associates, it received nine proposals by the Nov. 9 deadline for a government affairs contract that, once signed, would run through the end of the current legislative session and include all of 2008 and 2009.

Once the bids were in, five Stamford officials scored them independently, on the firm’s understanding of the city’s needs, experience, organization and cost.

So while the price wasn’t the only measure, it’s certainly the most quantifiable. Here were the bid amounts, from lowest to highest:

Elizabeth “Betsy” Gara & Assoc.: $90,000
TCORS Capitol Group: $95,400
The Kowalski Group: $122,854
Sullivan & LeShane: $150,000
Evans & Assoc.: $163,500
Gaffney, Bennett & Assoc.: $180,000
Murtha Cullina: $180,000
Brown Rudnick: $198,000
Camilliere, Cloud & Kennedy: $225,000

So not only was Gara the incumbent but in bidding $90,000 she offered the lowest price.

“We were confident we had done a good job,” Gara said in an interview.

That showed in her proposal, where the former Connecticut Business & Industry Association lobbyist detailed 15 positive legislative happenings for Stamford during her work for the city, including the passage of legislation giving towns more control over blighted properties and allowing them to conceal homeland security-related information.

When it came to price, Gara said she simply offered what she had been paid for the first year — $30,000 — and multiplied it by three.

“It wasn’t at all part of the strategy, it just seemed to be fair given the work,” she said.

Other firms bet they could get a lot more. For instance: The team of Anthony D. Camilliere, Christopher R. Cloud and Brendan J. Kennedy bid two-and-a-half times what Gara offered for her four-person team.

This didn’t seem to pay off. When it came time to scoring, the nearly quarter million dollar bid from Camilliere, Cloud & Kennedy finished sixth, ahead of only Kowalski, TCORS and — bringing up the rear — Evans & Assoc.

Another factor may have hurt the Camilliere crowd as well. Because of Stamford’s interest in revamping its electricity supply, Stamford was wary of hiring a firm with energy companies as clients, lest their priorities be subjugated.

Four of the firms -– Gara, Gaffney Bennett, Murtha Cullina and Sullivan & LeShane -– were invited in for interviews the week before Christmas. Robert L. Ruszkowski, purchasing agent, took notes.

Gaffney Bennett wasn’t an ideal choice because the firm represents Exxon Mobil Corp. and Northeast Utilities.

Though Murtha Cullina represented no energy companies, “a key member of the team was late,” Ruszkowski wrote. Isn’t showing up on time the first rule of a job interview? Points deducted.

That left Gara against Sullivan & LeShane. Though Gara offered the best price, Ruszkowski indicated that he was not pleased with the progress of the city’s funding proposals through the state Department of Transportation. He also wondered if Stamford needed a larger firm.

All five reviewers gave Sullivan & LeShane a score in the 90s. The firm asked for $40,000 this year, $50,000 for 2008 and $60,000 for 2009, making it $60,000 more pricey than Gara, but still less so than most others.

After the interview, Ruszkowski wrote, “This firm seems to have major connections in Hartford.” It was the strongest endorsement he gave anyone. Sullivan & LeShane won the contract and will officially be handed it shortly.

In an interview later, Ruszkowski put the Sullivan & LeShane choice simply: “They have very good access to the Governor’s office. But price was also an issue.”

Jonathan O’Connell is a Hartford Business Journal Staff Writer.