May 22, 2014

RTA Strategy [Solutions Powered by R Thompson Associates], a Georgia political management group, welcomes the addition of former Georgia State Representative and former Department of Transportation Commissioner, Vance Smith, Jr. to its team. Smith joins Rick Thompson, Jason Boles and former Dean of the State Senate, retired Board of Regent George Hooks.

“Vance was an effective lawmaker and influential DOT Commissioner,” says Rick Thompson, RTA’s Founder and CEO. “I have had the honor of knowing Vance as both a lawmaker and successful businessman. More recently our firm managed Vance’s disclosure reporting while he led in business development for engineering stalwart CH2M Hill. Vance brings a lot of expertise to our firm in transportation and construction. His economic development insight will play a significant role,” Thompson adds.

Vance Smith, Jr., a lifelong 3^rd generation Georgian from Pine Mountain spent 17 years in the Georgia General Assembly as a State Representative for the 129^th District. During his tenure he rose to Chairman for House Transportation, served as a member of Appropriations, a member of Economic Development & Tourism and, in 2006/2007, Floor Leader for then Governor Sonny Perdue. Prior to being elected to the General Assembly, Smith was the elected Chairman for the Harris County Board of Commissioners. In the private sector Vance runs a construction consulting business built on experience having led his family-owned construction and earth moving business in South Georgia where it developed properties for more than 57 years.

RTA’s George Hooks welcomed Smith aboard. “Vance and I served many of the same constituents over the years. We enjoyed a productive relationship working for Georgia. Vance’s influence and understanding of transportation is unmatched. It is wonderful to again work with my dear friend.”

“Vance’s experience compliments George’s. Each has a wealth of knowledge for government operations in Georgia and the unique industries where both have been successful entrepreneurs. It’s great momentum as we build a more robust government relations footprint,” adds RTA’s Chief Strategist, Jason Boles.

Organized in 2009, RTA Strategy is a political management group led by Rick Thompson and Jason Boles providing a broad scope of strategic government relation services to Corporations, Campaigns, Lobbyist, PACs and Candidates.

Roswell, Georgia – RTA Strategy Reacts to Georgia’s New Ethics Laws with New Service Option

January 2, 2014

Roswell, Georgia – RTA Strategy, a political management group founded by the former Executive Secretary of the Georgia Ethics Commission, Rick Thompson, announces a new service for Georgia Lawmakers in response to latest ethics legislation.

“Based on new laws passed and made effective January 1, 2014, Georgia lawmakers will now share in a burden of responsibility with regards to reported expenditures made by lobbyists,” says Rick Thompson. “In the past, lawmakers were only concerned with their campaigns’ contributions and expenditures. However, the new law will obligate Legislators to review Lobbyist expenditure reports to ensure compliance with the new $75 lobbyist expenditure limit.” Thompson continues, “Most everyone is focused on limits and loopholes, but lobbyist reports are now fair game for political opponents to scrutinize and to file complaints against unwary legislators.”

In response, RTA is offering a new service to lawmakers, where it monitors Georgia Lobbyists’ expenditure reports (filed bi-weekly during Session, monthly otherwise) and notifies clients of any possible concerns in reporting irregularities or violations of the new expenditure limits specific to the client. “New laws eliminate the lobbyist registration fee for 2014, we expect the volume of registrations, and consequently the volume of lobbyists’ disclosure reports to monitor, to increase dramatically,” says Thompson. “Our service takes administrative research off a legislator’s desk and lets he or she focus on higher priority issues.”

Organized in 2009, RTA Strategy- Solutions Powered by R. Thompson & Associates is a political management group providing an array of strategic enterprise services to candidates, campaigns, lobbyist, PACs and corporations. The cornerstone of its services is disclosure-reporting consultation.

For more information on disclosure reporting or lobbyists’ disclosure monitoring, contact RTA today!

December 4, 2013

Roswell, Georgia – R. Thompson & Associates, Georgia’s premier provider of campaign disclosure reporting services and consultancy to candidates, lobbyists and PACs comments on Georgia’s upcoming filing schedule for candidates, as released by the Georgia Government Transparency & Campaign Finance Commission.

Rick Thompson, former Executive Secretary for the Georgia Ethics Commission and founder and President of RTA says, “Unfortunately for candidates, with the timing of the implementation of the new reporting laws, candidates will have a double burden of reporting. One disclosure will cover activity from July 1 through to December 31, due no later than January 8. Within a month, another report will be due covering through January 31.” Thompson points out, “The January 31 report is unlikely to disclose much activity because incumbents cannot accept contributions during the legislative session that will have commenced January 14.”

The new January reporting deadline is a result of new ethics laws passed by the Georgia General Assembly during the 2013 Session.

Organized in 2009, RTA Strategy/ R. Thompson & Associates is a political management group providing an array of strategic enterprise services to candidates, campaigns, lobbyist, PACs and corporations. The cornerstone of its services is disclosure reporting consultation.

November 27, 2013

Roswell, Georgia – RTA Strategy, a political management group founded by the former Executive Secretary of the Georgia Ethics Commission, Rick Thompson, announces a partnership with former Georgia State Senator and Board of Regent, George Hooks.

“Since my arrival in Georgia almost a decade ago, Senator Hooks has been a confident, reliable voice of wisdom to me; from my time as a regulator through private practice. I’m honored to have the Senator as a strategic partner in our firm,” says Rick Thompson, RTA’s founder and President. “Senator Hooks is transitioning from lawmaker and Regent to advocate, and RTA is fortunate to be in a position to collaborate with him on strategic client matters,” Thompson adds.

George Hooks, a lifelong Democrat, served five terms in the Georgia House of Representatives from 1980 to 1990. In 1991 then Representative Hooks was elected to Georgia’s 14^th District Senate seat, the seat held by former President Jimmy Carter, where he served until his resignation in January 2013. Governor Nathan Deal appointed Hooks to the Georgia Board of Regents after his retirement from the post as Dean of the Senate. The former Senator announced he was stepping down from the Regent post last month citing his “lifelong passion involving historic preservation.”

Jason Boles, Partner and Chief Operating Officer, stated, “Senator Hooks will serve in an official capacity here as Senior Government Affairs Advisor. We are tremendously excited to have his insight. He will further improve the value to existing clients and will open the door to untapped relationships.” Hooks will be lobbying for his own firm as well. “We recognize Senator Hooks’ priority is lobbying for historic preservation measures and that Americus is his base of operations and home. We appreciate that he will be involved and are excited to see him around our office,” adds Boles.

Organized in 2009, RTA Strategy/ R. Thompson & Associates is a political management group providing an array of strategic enterprise services to candidates, campaigns, lobbyist, PACs and corporations. The cornerstone of its services is disclosure-reporting consultation.

Timely and accurate reporting for lobbyists is critical when trying to win and maintain client relationships. In an environment of increasing transparency, RTA Political Management Group founder & managing partner, Rick Thompson, says his firm is being increasingly retained to assist lobbyist in avoiding pitfalls […]

Roswell, Georgia residents are better informed on how Mayor Jere Wood and his advisors believe city resources should be managed.

Read about it in the AJC […]

By: Aaron Gould Sheinin

“Singled out in the flier for allegedly trying to bar citizens from exercising their First Amendment rights were Trip Martin and Jet Toney, two influential veteran lobbyists at the Capitol, along with Rick Thompson, the former commission chairman who now helps elected officials follow ethics rules.”

[Read It Here]

[Read Rick Thompson’s Press Release Here]

The spoof flyer can be seen below…

We also caught up with Rick Thompson, a former Director of the State Ethics Commission, who founded and serves as Managing Partner for RTA Political Management Group. Here’s a link to the audio. Again, the money quote:

The State of Georgia for many years has had an issue with individuals lobbying, yet refusing to register and report. House Bill 142 is a direct attempt to prevent unregistered lobbyist from lobbying and limiting gifts to elected officials. With this bill, the State of Georgia will be at the forefront of lobbyist transparency.

[read the full story here]