Pinellas commissioners signal preference for boutique lobbying firm Johnston Stewart for 2026 state legislative work

The Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners signaled clear direction on Sept. 4 to the county administrator to engage Johnson Stewart Government Strategies as the county’s state lobbying firm for next year. The board reached consensus during a follow‑up discussion after firm presentations and a show‑of‑hands narrowed the field to two finalists; commissioners then indicated Johnson Stewart as the preferred firm.

Why it matters: The county contracts with a state lobbying firm each year to represent county priorities in Tallahassee. Commissioners emphasized a desire for a firm that provides hands‑on, tailored service for county priorities rather than being one small client among many in a large national firm.

Selection process and rationale: County staff held formal interviews with several firms. Commissioners praised the nominee for being a boutique operation that presented a hands‑on or “concierge” approach and for having staff locally based in the Tampa Bay region; a commissioner noted a firm team member lives in St. Petersburg and can be on short notice for meetings. References checked by a commissioner reportedly preferred Johnson Stewart for Pinellas’ needs over larger competitors. Cost was also a factor: commissioners noted Johnson Stewart’s pricing was lower than some rivals.

Board direction and next steps: The board provided staff with direction to proceed with contracting with the preferred firm; county staff will finalize terms and return with a contractual formality per the county’s procurement rules. Several commissioners asked staff to monitor conflicts of interest, given legal services and lobbying functions can overlap in some firms. The county attorney’s office confirmed there was no direct legal conflict arising from existing litigation involvement with any finalist at the time of the discussion.

Attribution (select quote): Commissioner Peters, speaking in support of the boutique approach: “When you get a concierge — a small boutique firm — they’re not too small, but not too big, and they have the ability to really communicate closely… 1 of their team members lives in Pinellas County. They live in Saint Petersburg. So their communications are gonna be tailored specifically to our needs.”