Pasco County's voice in Tallahassee gave 'lobbyists a good name'

The Catholic school boy from Mount Carmel, Penn., thought he was ready for it, but once he reached Rome for his studies, his doubts grew: Was he cut out for the priesthood?

He studied and prayed and after three years in Rome, a priest helped him find an answer: "It wasn't what the Lord had planned for me."

Many years later, here was another plan: Joe Mannion became a lobbyist.

So maybe that sounds like a punch line. But those who know Mannion say the personal qualities that nearly led him into the priesthood served him well as Pasco County's longtime voice in Tallahassee.

"Father Joe," said Sen. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey. "He comes across that way. So relaxed. His demeanor is one of 'Let's look at the issue, let's not panic.' His counsel was so great."

Mannion, 75, has stepped down from the $85,000 lobbying position after 22 years on the job, which he was the first one to have. County officials have no immediate plans to fill the position amid budget constraints.

Last week, commissioners honored him with a resolution and detailed his key efforts over the years — from helping land the state veterans nursing home in Land O'Lakes to helping secure funds for utility projects — as well as his consistent presence at the statehouse, bird-dogging legislation important to the county.

But praise about Mannion is equally high on his personality as on his accomplishments.

"He is absolutely a wonderful, nice man," County Administrator John Gallagher said. "As a result of that demeanor, everybody liked him."

• • •

Between his early days in the seminary and the day he took the Pasco lobbying job in 1987, Mannion worked briefly as a high school history teacher in Washington and then, for more than two decades, as a television journalist.

A friend had helped him land a job with a Washington NBC News station that had a new program aimed at high school students called "Update." From there he got other reporting jobs, eventually ending up at Tampa's WFLA-TV Ch. 8, where he served as anchor, then news director, for 21 years.

He did editorials for the station, ending each one with the tagline: "That's what we think. Why don't you write and tell us what you think?"

(As recently as two years ago, he said, someone in an elevator at the Capitol stared at him and suddenly recited that tagline.)

But, he said, as "TV news was becoming less and less satisfying," he began seeking out a new career. He did some public relations work for the Catholic diocese. And then a mutual friend introduced him to Mike Wells, then a Pasco County commissioner and now the county's property appraiser.

Pasco did not have a powerful legislative delegation at that time and wanted a representative at the Capitol. Mannion said he saw some part of his new role as helping "take the mystique out of Tallahassee."

His work as an evening newsman had left him with good contacts and name recognition, not to mention an eloquent speaking style. But his time engrossed in spiritual concerns as a young man played a large role, too, in his life.

"It has definitely made a difference," he said. "It helps you keep your mind on what's really important."

• • •

Lobbying for Pasco County — his first and only client — was a bit of a learning curve. Mannion foundered at first, trying to figure out his role.

He checked in by phone with county administrators constantly until, he said, with a chuckle, they told him: "We'll give you a raise if you stop calling us so much."

In later years, he fell into a routine. Most mornings during legislative season, Mannion would leave his room at the Quality Inn, grab a bite from the continental breakfast — "a very nice breakfast," he says, sincerely — and head to the Capitol just after 6:30 a.m.

First stop was Fasano's office. They would swap news and, of course, talk about legislation. But Mannion would also fill the "Father Joe" role.

Fasano, known for dashing off an occasional letter of outrage, said Mannion would often calm him down. "He'd say, 'Go ahead and write that letter,' " Fasano said, " 'but put it in that drawer for 48 hours.' "

Mannion made it a point to know staffers as well as he did legislators. "Sometimes there are lobbyists who just want to talk to the legislator or the chairman of the committee," he said. "Everybody is important. And people do recognize it when you treat them that way."

Greg Giordano, a top aide to Fasano, said Mannion was a mentor, advising him on everything from dealing with the media to handling parenting challenges. (Mannion and his wife, Elizabeth, a lawyer, have four grown sons and two grandchildren.)

"The day would start out terrible," Giordano said, "and Joe would come in and say, 'Okay, let's sit down.' I don't know what it's going to be like in Tallahassee not to have Joe there."

For his part, Mannion said he isn't quite sure what comes next for him. Maybe rest up and think about things, he said. "It's good to reflect," he said.

• • •

At last week's meeting, commissioners heaped praise on the man whom Chairman Jack Mariano called "a true gentleman."

"You gave credibility to Pasco," Commissioner Ann Hildebrand told him.

"You give lobbyists a good name," Commissioner Michael Cox told him.

Mannion seemed a little taken aback. He thanked commissioners, thanked Gallagher, thanked, by name, the administrative assistants who'd helped him over the years.

"You've all been so good to me," he said, "and so kind."

Jodie Tillman can be reached at jtillman@sptimes.com or (727) 869-6247.