Lobbyists turn down $50K from Fulton

Having decided against hiring outside lobbyists to push back on Republican efforts to reshape the Fulton County government, commissioners changed their minds Wednesday, voting to hire the law firm McKenna Long & Aldridge on an emergency basis for $50,000. On Friday, though, the firm told Interim County Manager David Ware it doesn’t want the job, according to an internal memo obtained by the AJC.

The memo did not explain why. A senior advisor for the firm declined to comment.

Commissioners had previously decided to communicate with lawmakers themselves, fearing that spending tens of thousands of dollars on lobbyists would send the wrong message about fiscal responsibility. But they’ve been rankled by the bills introduced, including measures that would deplete revenues, redraw district lines and diminish the board’s influence over elections and MARTA.