LOBBYISTS FOR THE RTD

Lobbyists for the troubled Southern California Rapid Transit District abound in Washington, Sacramento and Los Angeles, costing $5.4 million over 3 1/2 years. Here is how the effort is organized:

AT THE TOP

The 11-member RTD Board of Directors approves hiring of outside lobbyists and money for in-house lobbyists.

John Dyer, RTD general manager, oversees internal lobbying network, negotiates contracts and recommends board approval of outside lobbyists.

DYER’S IN-HOUSE TEAM

Two RTD departments, one spent $1.4 million to monitor and try to influence federal and state legislation, the other spent $2.8 million to cultivate support for RTD projects among local elected officials, civic and business leaders in Los Angeles County.

FEDERAL-STATE EFFORT:

Barry Engleberg, director, shuttles to Washington to lobby and oversees outside lobbying contracts. Under Engleberg:

--Roger Slagle, lobbies and helps coordinate lobbying in Washington.

--Janis Whirledge, lobbies and helps coordinate in Sacramento.

--Priscilla Adler, though on federal-state team, lobbies local government officials.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT EFFORT:

Under director Lou E. Collier, 16 allotted positions including 13 field lobbyists to influence local government bodies on behalf of RTD.

THE OUTSIDE LOBBYISTS

IN WASHINGTON

Bill Hecht & Associates Inc., paid $440,200, specializes in lobbying Republicans, including Reagan Administration officials. Known Hecht lobbyists assigned to RTD:

--Stuart Spencer, close friend of and ex-campaign strategist for President Reagan. Chairman of the board of Bill Hecht & Associates. Lobbies Administration and Congress.

--William H. Hecht, firm owner and president. Strong Republican ties in Administration and Congress.

--John J. Connolly, Billy Lee Evans, M.B. Olgelsby Jr., Hecht employees who contact members of key congressional committees.

Manatt, Phelps, Rothenberg, Tunney & Evans, paid $337,500, specializes in lobbying Democrats, partners include former Democratic National Chairman Charles T. Manatt and former Democratic Sen. John V. Tunney, who left the law firm last month. Principal lobbyists:

--Tim Furlong, a partner in the firm in Washington.

--Mickey Kantor, Los Angeles-based, lobbied Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Los Angeles) when Waxman raised safety questions.

Cliff Madison Government Relations Inc., paid $105,200, good contacts with key members of House Public Works Committee, where Madison once was a staff member, watches day-to-day Metro Rail interests.

Palumbo & Cerrell Inc. , paid $155,900. President is Benjamin L. Palumbo, former congressional staff member with good entree to lawmakers from heavy rail and subway areas of the Northeast and Italian-surnamed congressmen.

Heron, Burchette, Ruckert & Rothwell. Firm’s former associate, James Lake, lobbied for Metro Rail in House and Administration from February, 1983, until 1984, paid $31,700, left to become spokesman for Reagan’s reelection campaign.

ECII & Associates, firm owner Earl C. “Skip” Cooper II, paid $31,000 as of last December, is president of the Black Business Assn. of Los Angeles and a long-shot candidate in 10th District for Los Angeles City Council. A former aide to Councilman Gilbert Lindsay, he was hired in 1985 to lobby primarily in Washington among black members of Congress, but never registered as a lobbyist. Runs a public relations firm from his Los Angeles home.

Diane G. Enos, paid $12,000. Former public affairs official in Urban Mass Transportation Administration, RTD Washington lobbyist only during 1983 but never registered.

IN SACRAMENTO

Charles H. Olsen Associates . Paid $155,400 July, 1983-December, 1986. The veteran of RTD contract lobbyists, beginning in 1974. Lobbied for money and other legislation helpful to RTD, including Metro Rail.

PROPOSED at $36,000 a year, Cordoba Corp., president George Pla close political associate of Los Angeles City Councilman Richard Alatorre and state Sen. Art Torres (D-Los Angeles). Earlier this year Dyer sought board approval to hire Pla as a second Sacramento lobbyist. The board initially balked and contract is on hold.

All figures listed are the amounts paid between July 1, 1983, and Dec. 31, 1986, except where noted otherwise.