By Brian Livingston
Politics and legislative maneuvers in which bills, amendments and ultimately laws are born are done so at a different pace and manner.
Issues have to be discussed over and over. Deals are made, sometimes at the expense of others. Compromises, albeit numerous, are fraught with hidden agendas. It takes a keen eye, a sharp ear and some friends in both high and low places to try and get a handle on all of the ins and outs of an issue. Some issues can make or break a municipality.
Jeff Homan, the city's former fire chief, was recently named by Meridian Mayor Cheri Barry as the Director of Governmental and Legislative Affairs for the City of Meridian. Homan said he has to stay one step ahead of the pack in trying to negotiate the tricky waters that run through state and federal government. He said his main objective is to try and determine what is best for the city of Meridian and its people in terms of state and federal legislation so he can better inform the mayor and Chief Administrative Officer Mark McDonald.
"This is an altogether different challenge for me," said Homan Monday afternoon from his office. "I've been in the fire service for so many years but in many respects I am doing the same sorts of things."
Whereas Homan was looking at the kinds of legislation that affected the fire service in particular as fire chief and as the President of the Mississippi Fire Association, now he is covering the whole of Meridian. He wants to see what is coming down the highway that may help or hurt Meridian. As he put it, "We don't want to sit in the back of the bus without a voice in matters that affect us as a municipality. We want to be in the front of the bus so we can control where it is going."
This new position, which pays almost $75,000 annually, was adopted as a job description for the city of Meridian by the Meridian Civil Service Commission on Sept. 8. On Oct. 13 a request to waive the competition requirements of application was passed by the commission leaving Barry free to appoint Homan to the position on Oct. 21.
Now in his new job and still trying to get completely settled in, Homan said he will rely on a great number of contacts and friends he has made in his 23-year fire service career. But he is not only relying on his past fire service contacts. In presenting and then getting three of four fire service bills passed earlier this year, Homan will be picking the brains of a great many people who make politics their business on a day to day basis.
"You have to know people and they have to know you," said Homan. "I've got a good relationship with a great many people who will help me in this position. It's taken years to build up that cadre of people so yes, I'm going to ask them for help if I need it."
One of those valuable connections will come from the Mississippi Municipal League of which Homan is a member. He said their work on bills, laws and other legislation is invaluable to him as they can deploy lobbyists and get information out to other sources quickly.
There is a lot of research involved, said Homan. There are many hours scouring the internet in an attempt to keep up with what is happening. Then there is talking to people in the know. All of which takes him back full circle to his overall goal.
"I hate to fail. I really do," Homan said. "So I'm going at this with everything I've got."
In addition to watching for legislation that may or may not adversely affect Meridian, Homan also has to hunt for any sort of grant money or program that would also benefit the city and its people.
"Anything that would improve our quality of life," Homan said.
