Tuscaloosa city leaders retain lobbyist for legislative session

Without a moment to lose, the Tuscaloosa City Council has voted to keep Steve Raby as its voice in Montgomery.

The current session of the Alabama Legislature is now underway. But on Tuesday, the council learned its lobbyist contract had lapsed in December.

Despite what’s being described as a clerical error, Raby and his company, Huntsville Direct Communications, a firm that specializes in public relations, local issue management and counseling, has remained in communication with City Hall since the Jan. 11 start of the session.

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The $48,000 contract approved Tuesday night by the City Council keeps Raby actively representing Tuscaloosa’s interests in the halls of Goat Hill.

Tuscaloosa has had an active lobbyist in Montgomery since 2007 when Hal Bloom and the Bloom Group Inc. of Montgomery was chosen by the City Council.

In 2020, the City Council re-opened the lobbyist hiring process and sought bids. Three companies, including the Bloom Group, responded, but Bloom eventually withdrew his company from consideration after council conflicts over which firm to hire arose.

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After weeks of ineffective discussion, Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox recommended Raby’s firm.

“At this point, I believe he’s the best alternative,” Maddox said in February 2020.

Raby’s contract, then for $40,000 for 20 months of service, was approved unanimously.

He was retained in 2021 for a full year and $48,000, the same total approved on Tuesday to purchase another year of his services.

Reach Jason Morton at jason.morton@tuscaloosanews.com.

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Tuscaloosa city leaders retain lobbyist for Legislative Session