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Sarasota commission re‑hires Southern Group as state legislative lobbyist, after competitive interviews
Summary
After a day of interviews with seven firms, the Sarasota County Board of County Commissioners voted 5-0 to continue a contract with the Southern Group for state legislative lobbying services for a three‑year term with optional extensions; the commission emphasized continuity as the Legislature considers major fiscal changes.
The Sarasota County Board of County Commissioners voted 5-0 Wednesday to continue contracting with the Southern Group to represent the county on state legislative matters, extending the county’s long‑standing external lobbying relationship as lawmakers prepare high‑profile proposals on property tax and other priorities.
Commissioners said they valued continuity and existing relationships in Tallahassee as they weighed presentations from seven firms that responded to a county request for information. Rob Lewis, the county’s director of government relations, told the commission the county needed direction quickly because appropriations and committee work were already underway.
The board’s decision followed roughly three hours of presentations from state lobbying firms — including Ballard Partners, Becker & Poliakoff, Capital City Consulting, Corcoran Partners, Shoemaker Advisors, Sunrise Consulting Group and the Southern Group. Dane Eagle, partner at Ballard Partners, said the firm’s local Sarasota office and Tallahassee presence let the company “contextualize things knowing the lay of the land.” Todd Josko, Ballard partner in Sarasota, also emphasized local ties.
In presenting for the Southern Group, Seth McKeel and Laura Beamer reviewed the firm’s decade‑plus relationship with Sarasota County and cited prior appropriations and project work on the county’s legislative agenda. Commissioners repeatedly cited the value of having well‑placed relationships inside the capitol and a team that can coordinate appropriations, grants and policy work year‑round.
Commissioner Kutzinger moved to continue the Southern Group contract for three years with the option for two additional one‑year renewals; Commissioner Knight seconded the motion. The board voted unanimously to approve the contract renewal. County staff later confirmed the contract amount remains the same as the current arrangement — $96,000 per year.
Why it matters: county officials said a year‑round lobbying presence matters because policy and budget discussions are continuous. Commissioners noted several legislative priorities — including property‑tax changes and transportation funding — that they expect to be central in the upcoming sessions and said an experienced firm already familiar with the county’s priorities will be useful.
What’s next: staff will finalize contract terms and return with the final documents. Commissioners also asked staff to ensure the selected firm coordinates grant work with the county’s grant‑writing efforts and with the county’s federal lobbyist when appropriate.
