Isn’t it fascinating that the city’s lobby firm, Adams & Zottarelli,
represents Austin’s interests in the electric utility fight while at the same
time representing Mobil Oil Corp.? After all, the city, which awarded a
$400,000, three-year contract to the firm, wants to protect its utility,
which means going slowly on deregulation. But Mobil Oil supports rapid
deregulation, and is a member of the Texas Coalition for Competitive
Electricity, an association that is pushing hard for deregulation in the
Legislature. Could there be a conflict of interest here?
Angelo Zottarelli, a partner in the firm, insists there is no conflict on the
deregulation question. “We are not representing Mobil on that issue,” he says.
“We are strictly representing the city of Austin on deregulation.” But
Zottarelli would not say what issues his firm is working on for Mobil.
John Hrncir, the city’s chief lobbyist and head of its intergovernmental
relations department, agreed. He said that as long as Adams & Zottarelli
“doesn’t lobby for someone else that is contrary to our position, then there’s
no problem.”
However, John Umphress, research director for the Texas office of Public
Citizen, said that contract lobbyists often run into conflicts between their
clients. “There needs to be some more questioning done about exactly what
issues these guys are going to lobby on for Mobil,” said Umphress. “But in the
end, the city has to take those guys at their word.” — R.B.
This article appears in February 21 • 1997 and February 21 • 1997 (Cover).