Scott Williams, the first of three candidates for the director of government relations interviewing with Ohio University, spoke to a sparse crowd at Walter Hall yesterday.
Competing with schools that have fleets of lobbyists can be futile
Williams said, adding that schools such as Ohio State University and the University of Cincinnati have at least three lobbyists working full time for them. Without someone in the fight you can't be expected to win it.
Williams spent yesterday interviewing with administration officials. He earned both of his degrees from OU -a bachelor's degree in political science in 1992 and a master's degree in public administration in 1995. Since December 2003, he has worked as the director of governmental affairs for the Ohio Association of Realtors. He has also worked as a legislative aide in the Ohio Statehouse.
Williams said the university has to hire a lobbyist to compete for state and federal funding. Our share is at least what we deserve he said. I won't give up just because somebody else has a better football team.
The new director will serve as a liaison between the university and the state legislature, governor's office, Congress and other government agencies, said Jack Bantle, who chairs the search committee responsible for finding a lobbyist. He or she will report directly to OU President Roderick McDavis and have an office in Cutler Hall.
Adrienne Dziak, the second candidate, will speak at a public forum at 2:30 p.m. today in Walter Hall 245.
Bantle said the university will bring a third candidate to campus June 15.
We have a person in mind
he said, but would not release the candidate's name. With their credentials
we thought it would be good to wait. It's cryptic.
Currently, OU pays $28,000 yearly to the Columbus-based State Street Consultants firm to lobby the state legislature on its behalf.
For federal issues, Bantle said OU has a contract with Beverly Jones, an independent lobbyist in Washington. She is currently under a yearlong contract with the university that expires in June and pays $36,000 plus $7,500 in expenses. And the OU College of Osteopathic Medicine retains its own lobbyist, George Dunnigan, who earns $106,362 annually. OU-COM pays half -$53,181 -and the Ohio Osteopathic Association pays the other half.
McDavis will determine the director's salary, and Bantle said he estimated that the new hire, depending on his or her experience, will earn between $75,000 and $100,000 per year. The university might set up an advisory committee to oversee the director.
OU has not had a full-time lobbyist since 2003, when Pam Siemer resigned, Bantle said. Siemer, who handled the university's federal lobbying efforts, left OU when her husband, Richard, then vice president for Finance and Administration, accepted the same position at the University of Kentucky.
OU is also in the process of hiring a permanent vice president for Finance and Administration.
17
Archives
Chuck Bowen
