Former lawmaker Bill Thomas will return to Juneau this session as a lobbyist for the Borough of Haines. Several Haines residents spoke against paying $45,000 plus expenses to send Thomas to Juneau, especially as the state is facing a financial crisis.
“Our experience with lobbyists has not yielded any results either in Washington, D.C. or in Juneau. We elect people to represent us in our capital,” said Thom Ely at a recent borough meeting.
A few residents suggested to instead send a group of residents to Juneau to plead the borough’s case. Lobbyist proponents on the assembly said the state’s budget woes are exactly why Haines needs a lobbyist.
“There’s a million dollars for our wastewater treatment plant in the governor’s budget,” said assembly member George Campbell. “… It’s not a done deal, so having a lobbyist protecting that is something I think is very important.”
Assembly member Margaret Friedenauer said by phone that she was disappointed that only two entities applied for the position. She said Thomas’ proposal, which read like a contract, lacked any plan or mention of his prior lobbying experience. Friedenauer also said that it would be challenging to give guidance to a lobbyist when it’s unclear what the borough’s legislative priorities are aside from asking for money for capital projects. She said hiring a lobbyist would be irresponsible.
“We can say we all know Mr. Thomas and respect him, and of course I do, and his experience, but frankly I was a little insulted by his proposal. It doesn’t give me a clear idea of what he plans to do as a lobbyist for Haines,” Friedenauer said.
Mayor Jan Hill spoke up to defend Thomas saying, “you are not going to find another lobbyist that will represent Haines better than Mr. Thomas will. It would be wonderful to have citizen representation and I think that’s a great idea, but I am horrified at the thought of citizens just taking it upon themselves to say they represent the interest of Haines.”
