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City Extends Nancy Johnson's Lobbying Contract

By Jeffrey B. Cohen

July 23, 2009

Mayor Eddie A. Perez has granted a six-month extension to former U.S. Rep. Nancy Johnson's Washington, D.C. lobbying firm.

The city council and Perez approved a $13,000-a-month contract with the firm known as Baker Donelson late last year. That contract expired June 30, but had an automatic six-month renewal clause which has gone into effect, the city said.

But if you ask some on the city council, their understanding was that they'd be kept in the loop - and that the contract extension wouldn't come without some performance evaluation and reporting to the council. According to Councilors Pedro Segarra and Matt Ritter, that didn't happen. (Photo: Baker Donelson)

"This whole contract needed to be evaluated for performance," Segarra said.

"There's no question there's supposed to be an update about the work they've been doing," Ritter said. Has the council gotten that update? "No."

Perez spokeswoman Sarah Barr said the firm is working on "a number of issues for the city including transportation, levee funding and the public safety complex." But, she said, the efforts haven't yet yielded money. The city is hopeful they will.

Click on the link in the "Related Links" box to see the firm's report to the mayor.