Peter Schorsch
Like so many others, I am really worried about my friend Nick Iarossi, one of the founders of the lobbying firm Capital City Consulting.
As Jim Rosica reported Tuesday, gambling giant Las Vegas Sands is abandoning its push for a destination casino resort in Florida. Part of thie move includes Sands canceling its contract with Iarossi and Capital City.
That’s why I can just imagine Iarossi right now being curled in a fetal position, wondering how he might ever recover.
Yeah, right.
If Iarossi were, in fact, curled up in a fetal position, that still would not wrinkle his $4,000 dollar suit.
Sure, Las Vegas Sands was a major client of CCC. It probably spent a quarter of a million dollars at Iarossi’s shop. And having Sands as a client also gave Iarossi access to Sheldon Adelson, the billionaire casino magnate who cuts million dollar checks to politicians like you and I drop change into the poor box at church.
All of this is to say, Iarossi and CCC are back on the market. To gambling interests, that should be the equivalent of the recent news that Jon Hamm is getting divorced.
“Wait, there’s hope for us getting together?”
The possibility of building a destination casino in Florida may be a long shot, but there are many other issues facing the gaming industry in Florida. So why not hire Iarossi and CCC, which is consistently in the Top 4 of compensation rankings?
I like to think there are few people who study and analyze Florida’s $600 million a year Influence Industry more than I do. Part of that analysis is discussing with firms what’s on their industry’s horizon. During my most recent round of presentations to my clients, I told each of them that within five years (or sooner if Brian Ballard and/or Ron Book decide to head off into the sunset), CCC will be the second-largest firm in Tallahassee. I don’t think CCC will challenge SSG for the No. 1 spot because of SSG’s national and statewide presence, but Capital City will be right there. Its stable of young lobbyists has – bar none – the best potential in the governmental affairs business.
So let’s not dance on Iarossi’s grave just yet. As much as Tallahassee likes to kick someone when they’re down, this is not the guy to do that.
I’ve known Iarossi since our days at Florida State, where he muscled me out of running against him for student body president. As he should have. Nick was Nick even then. A natural leader. Charismatic.
And never wrinkled.
Something tells me Iarossi will be just fine.
