Looking for lobbyists

Are you politically savvy? Do you know people in Columbus? Can you explain how a bill becomes a law?

The City of Cincinnati is looking for a new state lobbyist after its $5,000-a-month contract with the powerhouse Columbus lobbying firm State Street Consultants expired Dec. 31. Christopher Eilerman, the assistant to the city manager who coordinates the city's lobbying activities, said the election of former state Sen. Mark Mallory as mayor wasn't a factor in rebidding the contract.

The city's request for proposals makes clear that who you know is as important as what you know. Selection criteria include "relationships and contacts with members of the General Assembly" as well as "experience in representing municipal corporations."

The city's account is now held by Kevin L. Futryk of State Street Consultants, which is working under a three-month contract extension. According to Joint Legislative Ethics Committee filings, Futryk's other clients include ACS State and Local Solutions (which formerly had the city's workforce development contract), the Central Ohio Municipal Alliance, the M-E Companies (a civil engineering firm with $405,791 in city contracts in 2004), the Ohio Alliance of Community Centers for the Deaf, the Ohio Clerk of Courts Association and the Shelly Co. (a paving contractor).

As of today, here are the lobbying firms that have expressed interest in the contract:

• KMK Consulting Co., Cincinnati -- Run by Charles H. "Chip" Gerhardt, the former Vice Chairman of the Hamilton County Republican Party, whose clients include Cinergy Corp., developers Al. Neyer Inc. and Vandercar Holdings, Great American Insurance Group and the Greater Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce.
  
• Lobby Works, Cincinnati -- A new shingle set out by former Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Apartment Association lobbyist Charles Tassell.
  
• Resolvit Resources, Cincinnati -- an information technology company with its Cincinnati office across from City Hall.
  
• The Colwell Group, Loveland -- Christopher S. Colwell is a registered lobbyist for Cincinnati Bell.
  
• The Doyle Group, Beavercreek -- Lobbyist for hospitals, racetracks and Warren County.

The city's contract with its federal lobbyist, the Ferguson Group, expires in May.

More:

• Download the bid documents for Cincinnati's state lobbying contract (in .pdf format).
• Read State Street Consultants' most recent report on bills of interest to the city of Cincinnati (in .pdf format).