(The following story by David A. Michaels and Oshrat Carmiel appeared at NorthJersey.com on July 10.)
Bergen County did not have to look far to find its new voices in Trenton and Washington, recently awarding a $120,000 lobbying contract to a firm headed by the former executive director of NJ Transit.
Several months ago, George Warrington announced he would leave his job to form a company with the state’s former transportation commissioner, Jamie Fox. As expected, the close friends are now trading on their long careers in public service. Bergen County became their first public-sector client when the county approved its no-bid contract with them on June 20.
“We have a pretty unique footprint in the area of transportation policy,” said Eric Shuffler, the firm’s third partner and a former top gubernatorial aide.
If the arrangement works as planned, Bergen County will get a return on its investment. Lobbying for state and federal dollars will be a priority, Shuffler said.
“Clearly, there are federal dollars we can go after,” said Shuffler, a former top aide to New Jersey governors, who grew up in Ramsey. “There is no lack of funding issues and funding opportunities.”
Farouk Ahmad, the county’s director of planning and economic development, said he was “thrilled” that the firm responded to the county’s request for consultants. County officials were disappointed with their previous attempts to secure federal money, Ahmad said, adding that Warrington and Fox are “the best.”
“The more you squeak, the more you get grease,” Ahmad said.
But some critics said it looked as if the county specifically sought out Warrington and Fox.
“I just think it’s remarkable that you form a business, and before the ink is barely dry on your letterhead, you have received $120,000 from taxpayers,” said Elizabeth Randall, a former Republican freeholder.
Warrington, who served as NJ Transit’s executive director until March, resigned just after pushing through a 10-percent fare increase and advancing a proposal to build new rail tunnels under the Hudson River. He did not reply to a phone message Monday seeking comment.
Fox, who most recently was deputy executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, referred questions to Shuffler.
The county advertised its contract as a request for qualifications, which allowed it to search narrowly for a specific type of vendor. Ahmad said he did not know when the advertisement was published.
The county received the proposal from Warrington’s firm by May 31, according to county records. No other company applied.
The county’s previous lobbyist was former Rep. Robert Roe. His contract expired in 2001, Ahmad said.
Shuffler said his firm heard about the advertisement “through the grapevine,” and later checked the county’s Web site for details. Its principals had no contact with county officials before the contract was advertised, Shuffler said.
The firm’s letter to the county said it would propose solutions to gridlock on Routes 4 and 17. It suggested the use of “innovative transit,” such as express buses using dedicated lanes.
Such a project invariably would require cooperation with NJ Transit. Warrington is forbidden by conflict-of-interest rules from lobbying state agencies for a year, Shuffler said.
Warrington may work on the county’s behalf in Washington, where he previously served as president of Amtrak and en- joys close relationships with many lawmakers.
Rose Heck, a former Republican Assembly member from Hasbrouck Heights, questioned the alacrity with which Warrington and Fox quickly turned to lobbying.
“It’s almost too immediate,” said Heck, a light-rail advocate who sometimes clashed with Warrington over the agency’s plans for Bergen County. “It gives one pause to wonder how long they were planning this.”
Shuffler said county residents would benefit from the group’s expertise.
“The bottom line is, everything we are doing is fully consistent with the law,” he said. “We have a unique set of skills and experience that can serve the citizens of Bergen County.”