Ditchmen • NUCA of Florida Ditchmen • June 2017 | Page 19

The Rules of ENGAGEMENT by Kari Hebrank, Executive Vice President 19 After the November 2016 elections, legislative committee weeks, and a grueling 60-day Regular Legislative Session, followed by a Special Session called by Governor Scott, most of us in the lobbying corp are ready to take a break from politics. However, that isn’t exactly how the process unfolds. As one senator put it to me recently, the rules of engagement require industry associations and their lobbyists to step-up the political committee fundraising and distribution to both legislative leadership and “the party.” Whether we like it or not, money is the milk of politics and the expectation is that any industry group pushing an agenda—offensive or defensive—needs to “pay to play.” Additionally, developing relationships locally with lawmakers, outside the political DITCHMEN • JUNE 2017 framework, can go a long way to helping an agenda thru the legislative maze. For NUCA of Florida to be successful, we must build up our political war-chest and get involved with candidate races early in the process. We need to raise enough dollars to be able to give to leadership funds which support those that ultimately control the agenda within their respective chamber. We appreciate those that contributed to our “$160 for 160 seats” campaign last year as well as the Presidents Club donors of $1000. We are off to a great start for 2017 and must continue our drive to be impactful in the process but we need every member’s commitment to get us there. Won’t you support your industry association and give today? NUCA of Florida 2017 PAC Contributions to Date $5,000+ Johnson-Davis: Scott Johnson, Clark Cryer John-Woody, Inc.: Mike Woodall, Jon Woodall, Mike Kivlin Utility Service Company: Bill Lee, Jordan Lee $2,000 - $4,999 SUCA • $2125 $1,000 - $1,999 NUCA of North Florida • $1000 UCA of South Florida • $1000 NUCA of Southwest Florida • $1000 NUCA of Central Florida • $1000 • • • JUNE 2017 • DITCHMEN 19