LOBBYISTS FORM ASSOCIATION NEW GROUP WILL REPRESENT INTERESTS BEFORE CITY COUNCIL, OTHER AGENCIES.

Byline: Rick Orlov Staff Writer

Lobbyists have formed an association to represent their interests before the City Council and other agencies, particularly the city Ethics Commission, as reforms are being considered.

The Los Angeles Lobbyist and Public Affairs Association Inc., organizers said, will answer critics who charge lobbyists with working behind closed doors to win special favors for big-bucks clients.

``A bunch of us had been talking about this for a couple of years,'' said Arnie Berghoff, who counts BFI, operator of Sunshine Canyon Landfill, among his clients and is president of the new group.

``Other professionals - doctors, lawyers and others - have professional trade associations, but there is no one there to represent us. If something comes up, we can speak as individuals, but it is far different to have an association that represents more than 100 people to speak on our behalf.''

Steve Afriat, who has managed several council member campaigns and most recently represented the owners of nude bars, said the association would determine which issues to address.

``We haven't taken specific positions, but we are hoping that by banding together, we can use our effectiveness to at least get officials to hear us out,'' said Afriat, who serves as the association's chief financial officer.

``Over the last few years, most of the lobbying rules and regulations have been adopted without input from those at whom the rules are largely directed: registered lobbyists.''

The city of Los Angeles has rules covering lobbyists and disclosure of their clients and the amounts they are paid.

Afriat said it was recent proposals from the Ethics Commission that spurred the creation of the group.

``The Ethics Commission seems to be on the warpath against the lobbying industry and there doesn't seem to be a willingness to hear us out,'' Afriat said. ``We see people with no real understanding of what we do making policy that affects us.''

Among the recent proposals is a requirement that council members recuse themselves from issues in which they have received contributions from a lobbyist.

``They're making rules in a vacuum,'' Afriat said. ``I think they would be better off if they had a lobbyist serving on the commission to tell them what life is really like.''

The most recent figures available show there are 191 registered lobbyists in the city and they are paid some $16.5 million to influence policy.

Afriat said more than a dozen lobbyists have joined in the association and a letter will be sent to others in coming weeks asking them to join.

Members are volunteering their time and will not be paid to appear on the association's behalf, Afriat said.

Other members of the association's governing board include lobbyists Bob Bush, Jeff Seymour and Sheldon Sloan.

The new association does not have to register with the Ethics Commission, said spokeswoman Barbara Freeman.

Rick Orlov, [phone]

rick.orlov(at)dailynews.com