Amid confusion and controversy, lobbying firm Holland & Hart have dropped out of the Haines Borough’s search for a new federal lobbyist.
Two weeks ago, multiple assembly members said they misunderstood an ordinance that named Holland & Hart employee Kaleb Froehlich as the borough’s prospective lobbyist.
After the assembly voted unanimously to hire the firm — and as at least three assembly members thought, to hire Froehlich specifically — Froehlich informed the Chilkat Valley News and borough officials he was not a registered lobbyist and would not be lobbying for the borough.
Community members also raised concerns about Froehlich’s role as managing director of Alaska mining firm Ambler Metals, and his past representation of other mining firms in the state.
For Tuesday’s assembly meeting, borough manager Alekka Fullerton had prepared to ask the assembly to drop their hire of Froehlich. But before the meeting, and after a phone call between the firm and Fullerton, Fullerton said, Holland & Hart took themselves out of consideration.
“(Froehlich and Holland & Hart lobbyist Anton McParland) called me and said, ‘this is not the way to start a relationship,’” Fullerton said Tuesday. “We had a good, candid conversation and I really respect them for doing that.”
It’s not clear exactly where, and how, the confusion started.
Froehlich was listed in a lobbying proposal as one in a four member team that would represent the borough. Fullerton said last week that based on the proposal, a reference from the borough’s previous federal lobbyist, and phone conversations that included Froehlich, she believed Froehlich would be the “main person” representing the borough.
Last week, even after hearing directly from Froehlich that he was not a registered lobbyist, Fullerton said she still believed Froehlich would be the borough’s “main person” in the lobbying effort.
An emailed statement attributed to Holland & Hart partner Kelly Johnson Tuesday said that Froehlich “did not hold himself out as a federal lobbyist in Holland & Hart’s proposal to deliver government affairs services to Haines Borough, or in any other written or verbal communication.”
Froehlich and Holland & Hart representatives both declined to say whether Froehlich had spoken by phone to Fullerton. They also would not comment further on the content of his conversations with borough officials.
Fullerton said Tuesday she is gathering new proposals from prospective lobbyists, which she will present to the assembly at a future meeting.
That could lead to discussion not just on what lobbyist to hire, but whether to hire a lobbyist at all. Assembly member Craig Loomis, and public commenters, questioned what impact federal lobbyists have had, and whether they were worth the cost to the borough.
Others defended the need for a lobbyist.
“Now is the time we need a federal lobbyist,” assembly member Cheryl Stickler said, referring to uncertain and reduced federal funding. “We need boots on the ground to be able to go in face-to-face, shake hands, and speak for the Haines community.”
That debate has been ongoing for over a decade.
A new federal lobbyist, Fullerton said, will be assigned to help recoup de-obligated FEMA funding for Porcupine Road, and secure funding for a new Public Safety building and the Lutak Dock.