The small lobbying firm Johnson & Blanton ranks at No. 6 on Sunshine State News Top Lobbying Firms in Florida.
With only four lobbyists, Tallahassee-based Johnson & Blanton is one of the smaller lobbying firms on SSNs list of top lobbyists, but dont let their size fool you: in 2012, the firm brought in $2.4 million in legislative fees, or about $589,000 per lobbyist.
The firm has deep roots in Florida politics.
Jon Johnson founded the firm in 1995, but has been involved in the political scene since he was young. Before Johnson & Blanton he served as a fundraiser for major donors and as a campaign consultant to legislative candidates with the Republican Party of Florida. Johnson was so skilled at fundraising that he was appointed the partys deputy finance director at only 20 years old, becoming the youngest person in the nation to hold such a high-profile position with the Republican Party.
Johnson also served in the Martinez administration, where he oversaw the Department of Professional Regulation's external and political affairs.
Travis Blanton has fundraising experience as well. He served as senior Senate liaison for the Republican Party of Florida, where his roles included chief fundraiser for Senate campaigns. Blanton also served as the chief of staff for the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) and managed staff at AHCA's legislative affairs office, in Washington, D.C., during the Jeb Bush administration.
Johnson & Blanton represents a great many clients from the health care industry. In 2012, its top client was the Florida Hospital Association, but others included BayCare Health Systems, Florida Crystals, and Pfizer. All in all, the firm had 49 clients with an average annual retainer of $48,000 per client.
Jon Johnson said the firms specialization in health care has been good for business.
During all economic seasons, health care tends to be one of the growth industries in our country during the last decade or so, he began. So I think the fact that weve had that focus has certainly been helpful.
He also told Sunshine State News that he expects the firms lobbying business to be steady for 2013, but theres still time to pick up clients before the Legislature is back in session.
We do anticipate some opportunities, just given the fact that, as session draws closer, folks looking for help in Tallahassee, the closer the clock gets to the session ... the more you have groups making inquiries, he said.
Johnson explained that his and Blantons long experience, coupled with an appreciation of the legislative process, is part of what makes their firm unique and successful.
We do have a longevity, and weve been at [lobbying] for quite a while, he said. We try to work our issues very hard ... and I really do think theres a degree where we try not to take ourselves too seriously. We try to enjoy what were doing, to value people, and enjoy getting to know new members and veteran members. ... Across the board, we value the folks in the [legislative] process, both the elected and the professionals.
Reach Tampa-based reporter Allison Nielsen atallison@sunshinestatenews.comor follow her on Twitter at @AllisonNielsen.
