Ryan Ray
Miami-based governmental affairs firm Gomez Barker took in an estimated $230,000 during the second quarter of 2015, according to recently submitted compensation reports.
The firm’s three-lobbyist team — composed of Fausto Gomez, Manny Reyes, and William Helmich — represented 29 clients between the months of April and June, all for legislative work.
The roster of interests was heavily South Floridian: Seven of their eight highest-paying clients were based in the Miami area including Miami-Dade Expressway Authority, which compensated the firm at a rate of about $35,000, and the municipalities of Coral Gables, North Bay Village, South Miami, Cutler Bay, Key Biscayne and Miami-Dade County itself all paid about $15,000 each for a combined total of $90,000 in consulting fees.
Only film industry advocacy group COMPASS, headquartered in St. Augustine, was from outside the area. It rendered between $10,000 and $19,999 for Gomez Barker’s services as well.
Florida law requires lobbying firms to submit compensation reports quarterly. They are permitted in most cases to simply report an approximate range of client compensation rates instead of the specific dollar amount.
