It has been reported that Government Action Professionals, one of three lobbying firms in the running to become Niagara County’s main advocate for state and federal funds, counts as part of its staff former Erie County Deputy Executive Carl Calabrese and former City of Buffalo Mayor Anthony Masiello.
What may not be widely known is that GAP’s list of clients has included several recognizable Western New York entities, including the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority, the Buffalo Niagara Builders Association, Kaleida Health and the Buffalo Niagara Partnership.
A check of the state’s Board of Elections Web site shows the lobbying firm has donated $25,674 to political campaigns since 2005. The funds were distributed to both Republican and Democratic candidates. Notable names on the list include current Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown, state Sen. George Maziarz and state Assemblywoman Francine DelMonte.
The company’s Web site suggests that the company specializes in issues related to infrastructure protection and homeland security, noting that Calabrese helped spearhead Erie County’s homeland security program and his partner in the firm, Marina Woolcock, was once oversaw homeland security in Erie County.
GAP is one of three firms under consideration to become Niagara County’s lobbyist. They will be evaluated by County Manager Gregory Lewis and members of a legislative committee along with the other two companies that have submitted proposals — Bolton-St.John’s of New York City and Capital Public Strategies, LLC of Albany…
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