Former Congressman Mike McIntyre left office six months ago, but he’s still meeting with local officials and special interest groups. The only difference is, this time he’s coming at issues from the perspective of a lobbyist.
McIntyre is now senior adviser and director of government relations for the PoynerSpruill law firm in Raleigh, which among other things lobbies for legislation and government policy on behalf of clients. The longtime 7th Congressional District representative was known for his steadfast support of beach renourishment, deepening the Wilmington harbor to allow larger ships into the port and support of the military.
He says he’s still passionate about those issues, and Wednesday he was trying to drum up business as well. He spent much of the day meeting with officials in Wrightsville Beach, Carolina Beach and Wilmington, and he attended a meeting of the Wilmington-New Hanover Port, Waterway and Beach Commission.
During his tenure McIntyre, a conservative Democrat, put a high priority on constituent service, to include the coastal communities in the district he represented for 18 years. His remarks to the waterway and beach commission frequently alluded to his assistance with the issues he was discussing, such as sand replenishment projects for the beaches and shallow-draft inlet dredging.
He reminded members of “the history and passion I still have” for coastal issues.
“And I am working from the standpoint that our beaches are indeed an economic engine and an environmental treasure,” he told the commission, which includes elected officials from New Hanover County and its four municipalities, as well as appointed members.
He rattled of a few achievements such as persuading his fellow members of Congress to extend Carolina Beach’s dredging program for 15 years as it was about to expire. Keeping sand on the beaches is one of the top priorities of local officials because tourism plays such an important role in the economy.
Dennis Barbour, chairman of the waterway and beach commission and a former Carolina Beach mayor, said McIntyre also called one Election Day informing him that he had secured $500,000 to maintain Carolina Beach Inlet. “That was a good call, especially on Election Day,” he said.
McIntyre is banking on his reputation as a congressman to help him in his new career.
Among other things, McIntyre said he believes it is important that coastal communities be represented on the issue of oil and gas exploration offshore.
The American Petroleum Institute has estimated that jobs and annual revenues from oil and gas drilling would be significant, but no profit-sharing agreement is in place. Gov. Pat McCrory and Republican lawmakers have eyed that possible windfall as a way to balance the state budget, but critics of drilling take issue with the optimistic estimates and point to the environmental risks.
“If it were to come to pass, there is no doubt those communities would want to be part of” a revenue sharing program, McIntyre said. But under current federal law, neither North Carolina nor the beach communities would share in the profits.
If that were to change, N.C. General Statute 113B-20 outlines how the state’s share would be allocated. Seventy-five percent would go to the general fund. None would come directly to the towns, although the Department of Environment and Natural Resources would get 5 percent to use for such purposes as beach and inlet projects.
During his brief talk, McIntyre did not directly solicit business but merely shared his credentials and let officials know he’s available should they desire his services. The New Hanover County Commissioners already have a lobbyist who focuses on beach issues, former state Republican Chairman Tom Fetzer, who also has joined the lobbying world.
But there are a lot of small beach towns out there, and McIntyre is visiting them all. So far he has talked with officials of 10 coastal communities in Southeastern North Carolina, including the three he visited Wednesday, and he said he was heading up the coast toward Dare County for another series of meetings.
Because he left office less than a year ago, McIntyre may not lobby Congress yet. But hard-fought rules to address the so-called “revolving door” between Congress and the lobbying industry do not prohibit him from lobbying state lawmakers or even federal agencies.
For now, he is making the rounds, passing out business cards, shaking hands and visiting many of the same places he saw while he was still in office.
email Tricia Vance at tricia@luminanews.com
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