Seifert: Ferguson Group comes through


It was a coincidence that Rep. G.K. Butterfield announced a road grant for Henderson just hours after a delegation from the city met with him Wednesday, but it was a coincidence that reveals the value of the city’s lobbying efforts in Washington, Mayor Clem Seifert said Friday.

The reauthorization of a federal road bill now has an earmark of $960,000 for the widening of Beckford Drive, Butterfield announced. That bill awaits final House and Senate approval and a presidential signature, but the congressman said he expects the money to remain in the legislation.

“Congressman Butterfield is directly responsible for that project,” Seifert said. “That’s going to be big for us. Beckford Drive is probably one of our next big areas of development.”

The mayor said the money is just the latest validation of the city’s $78,000-per-year contract with its Washington lobbying firm, The Ferguson Group.

“We get criticized for going and having the city buy us dinner, but that’s a pretty cheap cost for $960,000,” Seifert said. He said the city could have won the federal money without The Ferguson Group, if only Henderson had the relationships with lawmakers and knew all of the federal programs.

“It’s worth the money just to have the city think about what they need,” Seifert said. “We do a lot of planning that never culminates in any action,” but The Ferguson Group helps with that plan and takes that action.