Garner joins Albany lobbying firm
Maurice L. Garner, one of Buffalo's best known political operatives and a close associate of Mayor Byron W. Brown, has joined Bolton-St. Johns Inc., one of Albany's top lobbying firms.
Bolton-St. John's spokesman Edward Draves said Friday that Garner will assist the firm with existing clients and new business development.
"We want to expand our reach out to Western New York, where we think a lot of things will be happening," Draves said. "And people in Western New York don't realize what a statewide player Maurice is."
Garner, 50, is a longtime confidante of the mayor and a co-founder of the Grassroots political club on Buffalo's East Side. His last government position was as Buffalo's deputy comptroller, and he has since opened his own consulting firm.
Now he joins an Albany company with vast experience in government relations and consulting, and the firm's officials expect he will play a major role, Draves said.
-- Robert J. McCarthy
