Lobbyist for city of Kent brings in the results

When Kent city officials want results from the Legislature in Olympia, they turn to Doug Levy, their paid lobbyist.

Levy works as a lobbyist for Kent and five other cities under year-to-year contracts. He’s getting paid $66,000 in 2011 by Kent to identify key issues, monitor legislation and assist with state funding for city projects.

“The money Doug has brought back to Kent far outweighs the cost,” said Michelle Witham, city community and public affairs manager who oversees Levy’s work. “He’s been very successful on our behalf. We have no qualms about the value he brings back to the city and the residents.”

Levy, 49, has contracted with Kent since 1999 after he started his own lobbyist business called Outcomes by Levy. He worked as the city of Everett government affairs director from 1994 to 1999 before branching out on his own.

He still contracts as a lobbyist with Everett as well as the cities of Federal Way, Renton, Redmond and Puyallup. The contracts ranged from $42,000 from Puyallup to $66,000 from Everett and added up to nearly $330,000 for Levy in 2010, according to Washington State Public Disclosure Commission reports.

“It’s a great gig for him,” Witham said of the multiple contracts. “When Doug gets offers for other contracts, he checks with us to see if there is any discomfort if he might be stretched too thin. But with the other cities, a lot of issues are similar. He has the knowledge to work with the other cities.”

Levy said he has represented Everett since 1994, Renton since 1999, Federal Way since 2001, Puyallup since 2004 and Redmond since 2009. He hires a temporary employee each session but otherwise it’s a one-man show.

“I hope it feels it is getting its money worth,” Levy said of the contract with Kent during a phone interview from Olympia. “There are a lot of people competing for a limited amount of funds. And about one-third of the legislation impacts cities. It’s not unlike a company that wants to protect its interests. It’s important to have someone on the ground looking out for you.”

Witham reels off a lengthy list of projects and legislation Levy has dealt with for Kent.

“His most recent one was the $10 million (grant last year from the state) for the Horseshoe Bend levee,” Witham said of the Green River project. “He helped us secure those funds in Olympia.”

Levy also worked on legislation to help fund the ShoWare Center through a portion of the state sales tax returned to the city; helped acquire funds for transportation projects such a railroad-grade separations to improve freight mobility through the city so that trucks no longer have to wait at train crossings; and helped make sure that Kent received mitigation funds after the state adopted the streamlined sales tax.

Councilman Ron Harmon said the city needs a paid lobbyist.

“We’re part-time Council members and we only have so much staff to go around,” Harmon said in a phone interview. “It’s the best value for our dollar. We need someone making sure our voice is heard in Olympia and we have ears there to report back to the Council and administration.”

City staff does not have time to lobby on a regular basis in Olympia, Witham said.

“I can’t be on the ground everyday in Olympia and get my work done here,” she said. “The sessions go from 60 to 105 days and you’ve got to be on the ground going to committee meetings to know what’s going on. Doug testifies on our behalf and has a long established relationship with legislators because he’s there all the time. He has access to them to advocate on Kent’s behalf.”

Levy downplayed the role he plays in issues that result in the city’s favor.

“It’s all team efforts,” he said. “What we accomplish here is because of the city and legislators who are committed to make it happen.”

Many cities hire lobbyists to work in Olympia. Public agencies spent more than $6 million lobbying Olympia in 2009, according to a July 2010 report by the Freedom Foundation, an Olympia-based public policy research group. The biggest spender was the University of Washington at $306,377. Even the Office of the Governor spent $107,141.

Amber Gunn, director of economic policy for the Freedom Foundation, said her group opposes state agencies that hire lobbyists with taxpayers money to go after more taxpayers money. Gunn said it’s not that simple when it comes to local governments who hire lobbyists.

“Local governments need to lobby for all kinds of reasons,” Gunn said. “Sometimes, it’s cheaper for a local government to contract it out because they cannot afford a full-time lobbyist. They can save money rather than using someone in-house.”

Gunn said it’s up to local residents if they have a problem with their city hiring a lobbyist.

“If they feel they have a concern, they can bring it up to the City Council,” Gunn said.

The Kent City Council votes each year whether to renew the contract with Levy and at what cost. The money comes out of the general fund through the mayor’s office budget.

Kent also belongs to the Association of Washington Cities, a nonprofit group that represents Washington’s cities and towns before the Legislature, the state executive branch and with regulatory agencies.

“That’s a really large organization that represents a lot of cities,” Harmon said. “Levy is restricted to the cities he represents so we get a better focus.”

Levy meets with city officials and staff prior to each session so he knows where to focus his attention.

“I try to spend a lot of time working with the cities and talk to their staff about the issues to find out what they want and don’t want,” Levy said. “Then I spend time with the legislators in session and outside of session.”

Witham said she will get e-mails from Levy as early as 4 in the morning during sessions.

“I don’t know when he sleeps,” she said.

Other cities have called Witham for references about Levy.

“I gave him a rave review,” she said.

Levy, who lives in Kenmore, graduated from the University of Oregon with a journalism degree and worked several years as a newspaper reporter in the Tri-Cities and Vancouver before switching to government work.

“The pace is frantic,” Levy said of lobbying. “For anyone who has not done it, they’d be surprised at how many things there are to keep track of. It’s not for the feint of heart.”

And the hours are numerous, especially during a session and with work to do for six cities.

“It’s a lot of work,” Levy said. “With the cities there is some overlap. But each city has its own issues. You go in knowing you are in for a lot of hours.”

Harmon appreciates Levy’s work.

“He works very closely with our representatives in the House and Senate and has a lot of credibility,” Harmon said. “He gives us weekly reports. I recently read a seven-page report from him. We get a real bang for our dollar.”