Submitted by Imani Thomas
Over the years an increasing number of state and federal Legislators have chosen lobbying as a career after their legislative term is complete. Critics have called the process a revolving door. A lobbyist is a person who advocates for a person, an organization, or a group, just like a legislator who advocates for their district or state. Alan Williams who served in the Florida House of Representatives for eight years, termed out in 2016 and found himself still wanting to advocate for others. In 2017, he became a lobbyist and consultant with Meenan, P.A. a law firm in Tallahassee, FL. His focus is on local, state, and business development issues for clients at the firm. “I always saw myself in public service, so I always knew I wanted to help people”, Williams said.
This year session is completely different for legislative members and lobbyists due to the COVID-19 virus that is sweeping the nation. For lobbyists, it is harder to get issues across to legislators due to not having in person contact with certain legislators and their staff. But Williams has a trick for that, “when we have new Legislators, new legislative aides, and staffers it’s extremely critical to know them because they will be the ones getting the information to the members for the certain bills that I am advocating for,” Williams said.
Williams has an upper hand on other lobbyists because he has been on both sides of the playing field. “The wonderful thing about being a legislator before becoming a lobbyist is you understand what the member goes through and also what they need from your client when it comes to putting their legislative proposal together into a concept that works for the legislative process,” Williams said. “That way your clients get what they need, and the legislator and their staff doesn’t have to do as much.”
There is also some struggle that comes with being a lobbyist, just like any job you have some obstacles. “There is another layer now when you’re a lobbyist, it is a little different than being on the legislative side where you know everything that’s going on. As a lobbyist you lose the level of engagement with legislator, as when I was in office, I had direct contact with my colleague,” Williams said. Even though he enjoyed being an elected official, Williams does not see himself going back to being a legislator. “I never saw myself as a legislator, I saw myself helping out the community and right now I feel like it’s in good hands.” Williams said.
Senator Smith Florida politician
Senator Chris Smith was elected in the Florida Senate in 2008 representing Broward and Palm Beach County. While serving in the Senate, he was the leader of the Democratic party. It was easy for him to become a lobbyist after terming out because it was just another way of representing people. He has been involved in politics since he was high school so doing both jobs came easy to him.
“As a lawyer it was easy for me to go from being a legislator to now being a lobbyist because you’re still representing a cause,” Smith said. “The only difference for me is I’m not thinking of my constituents when I’m lobbying, I’m only focused on my client’s needs” Senator Smith does not see himself going back to being a legislator.