The Mayernick Group surges into top 10 with Q1 report

Frank Mayernick

The Mayernick Group surged into the top 10 list of highest-grossing lobbying firms after reeling in an estimated $1 million in lobbying compensation during the first quarter.

Frank Mayernick, Tracy Mayernick, Rob Johnson and Katie Smith reported up to $1.12 million in legislative lobbying earnings during the quarter, which included the 2018 Legislative Session, and tacked on up to $290,000 more through their efforts lobbying the Governor and Cabinet.

The Mayernick Group listed more than 50 clients on its legislative report, including a trio of principals that paid $50,000 or more — the line after which firms must report the exact pay they received rather than reporting their earnings in ranges.

The Associated Industries of Florida, a pro-business group known as “the voice of Florida business,” topped Mayernick’s report with $77,000 in Q1 payments, followed by Applied Underwriters and Seaside Town Council at $50,000 apiece.

The report included clients in each of the $10,000 ranges lobbyists use to report their income. The American Council of Life Insurance was the sole member of the $40,000 to $50,000 club; Creative Core Group, Floridians for Access to Health Care, MCNA Dental Plans and Walmart filled out the $30,000-plus bracket; while pharma company Alkermes, anti-rail group CARE FL, Diverse Computing, Eldorado Resorts, HCA Healthcare, Jacksonville Greyhound Racing, mental health group PEMHS and State Farm paid between $20,000 and $30,000 each.

Another 21 clients paid at least $10,000 for Mayernick’s government affairs expertise, followed by eight in the bottom bracket of $1 to $10,000.

Notable names among that cohort include red-light camera company American Traffic Solutions, Anheuser-Busch, AT&T, communications hardware company Aviat, the Florida Medical Association and U.S. Sugar.

The executive compensation report listed a subset of the firm’s legislative clients. Three-quarters of the principals on that report showed up in the sub-$10,000 pay range, while the remainder were marked down as paying $0 over the three-month span.

Using median figures from the two reports, Mayernick’s Q1 haul was $1.06 million, though it could have topped out at $1.41 million. The especially strong numbers in the legislative report launched the four-person government affairs team to the No. 8 spot in legislative lobbying pay, five spots up from its ranking for the fourth quarter of 2017.

Drew Wilson

Drew Wilson covers legislative campaigns and fundraising for Florida Politics. He is a former editor at The Independent Florida Alligator and business correspondent at The Hollywood Reporter. Wilson, a University of Florida alumnus, covered the state economy and Legislature for LobbyTools and The Florida Current prior to joining Florida Politics.



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