The city of Cambridge is seeking a new lobbyist for the upcoming Maryland General Assembly session, following the departure of its previous representative, Paul Ellington, who accepted a position in the Trump administration.
City officials say the role is vital as Cambridge prepares for a year of complex funding needs and potential legislative challenges.
City Manager Glenn Steckman said the lobbyist is central to the city’s ability to secure state support for major projects. “It has always been an important position for securing funding or getting access to a secretary-level department,” he said.
Steckman said the city is not changing direction but simply replacing a function that has been in place for years. He noted that four lobbying firms have already expressed interest, and the city expects to make a selection by late December or early January so the lobbyist can begin work before the session opens.
A key issue the new lobbyist will monitor is the longstanding fight over the county tax differential. Cambridge hopes to see Dorchester County reclassified from a “may” county to a “shall” county so residents are not taxed twice for services the county does not provide within city limits.
Steckman said last year’s discussion about eliminating the differential heightened the city’s concern. “We were all a little shaken when the county discussed eliminating that tax differential,” he said.
The city plans to resume talks with Dorchester County after the new year to discuss a path forward. Steckman said the lobbyist will help ensure Cambridge is represented if legislation on county classifications emerges in Annapolis.
He also said the General Assembly session could present risks to municipal funding. “Hopefully existing programs or revenue streams are not cut back like they were during the Great Recession,” he said.
At the same time, Cambridge will push for additional assistance on several major infrastructure projects. Steckman cited the Trenton Street pump station, the wastewater interceptor, shoreline resiliency work, and a new heating and ventilation system for the public safety building.
“Cambridge has a lot of needs, and I could go through an entire list of projects that need to get addressed in the next five or ten years,” he said. He added that the city hopes to ease the financial load on local taxpayers while continuing to modernize core systems.
The city’s request for proposals outlines the duties of the selected lobbyist, including monitoring legislation, shaping strategy, and building relationships with lawmakers and agency leaders. Applicants must submit profiles, legislative histories, strategy outlines, and disclosures of conflicts of interest.
Proposal documents are available through the City Manager’s Office by contacting Executive Assistant Tyasia Johnson at [email protected] or 410 228 4020. The city advises vendors to check its website for addenda and warns against relying on third-party downloads.
Questions are due by noon on December 9. Proposals are due December 15 at 2:30 p.m., with a public opening immediately afterward at City Hall.
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