Commentary: Lobbying is fine but the lack of transparency is not

This post has been updated to include that the writer is running for City Council.

Sometimes, due to the nature of my legal practice, I am called upon to lobby elected representatives at the local, county and state levels.

And there is nothing wrong with contacting one of our elected officials and presenting a point of view, either as a private citizen or as a paid representative of a local citizens group or a business entity. And, quite frankly, there is nothing wrong with an individual, a group or an entity donating money to elected officials.

The problem comes when individuals and groups, and the people that they have retained to represent their interests, try to hide those relationships from the public.

Furthermore, those relationships become even more problematic when the lobbyist representing special interests also acts as the paid campaign consultant to the individuals and officials who are going to be voting on issues which the lobbyist is paid to influence. Because, regardless of how independent a candidate or elected official claims to be, he is beholding to the consultant who managed the campaign and got him elected.

So, at the end of the day, when a candidate, or an elected official, turns to his consultant about a pending issue, how can the candidate be sure that the consultant is giving him advice that benefits him as a candidate or elected official as opposed to telling him or her what is in the best interest of his lobbyist client?

When consultants are also lobbyists, there is an inherent conflict which, frankly, is never resolved in the best interests of the public.

Councilman Keith Curry is proposing that all individuals who are paid to represent the interests of entities that have business before the city of Newport register as lobbyist. There is absolutely no downside to requiring those individuals and organizations who want to attempt to influence our elected officials from identifying who they are and who they represent.

The public has a right to know that information, especially with regard to individuals who represent outside interests and, at the same time, are paid to get the individuals who are voting on those interests elected to the very office that they want to influence.

Conceptually and legally, there is nothing wrong with that as long as we, the public, know who those people are and who they represent, both as consultants and as lobbyists.

Transparency is a great concept, all too often preached but not practiced. Mr. Curry has shown the courage of his convictions and his efforts should be applauded and supported.Ci

City Council candidate PHIL GREER lives on Newport Coast.