Peter SchorschFlorida enters a new legislative year, one filled with ambitious environmental priorities.
Yet, I cannot help but notice a number of enviro groups have taken a page from the Everglades Foundation playbook by contracting several heavy hitters to promote their interests in Tallahassee.
Case in point: two years ago, the Everglades Foundation brought in a team of top-tier lobbyists, including Nick Iarossi of Capital City Consulting and Adams Street Advocates (Claudia Davant and Robert Beck are the ASA leads) to advocate for funding.
Following that formula, the Nature Conservancy has now hired Rhett O’Doski, Derek Whitis, Sean Stafford and Ryder Rudd to push its 2015 session agenda.
Why is this noteworthy?
Well, aside from their racing abilities, O’Doski and Whitis also rep Big Sugar – specifically Florida Crystals and U.S. Sugar, respectively.
So it seems environmental groups, or at least the Nature Conservancy, has determined that getting things done takes precedence over the age-old Florida battle of environmentalists versus Big Sugar
At this point, let me make one thing clear: I love sugar. A lot.
Nevertheless, one thing this hire tells me — maybe (just maybe) there is common ground between two oft-warring factions. The enemy of my enemy is my friend, and so forth.
Or is it that the friend of my friend is also my friend. Or … a simple realization that when all you have are enemies, it’s tougher to win in Tallahassee — and little sound public policy ever passes.
By hiring lobbyists that logically, calmly and rationally speak to the other side (see previous comment on success of the new Everglades team), it offers me a glimmer of hope for Florida enviros in the upcoming year.
