WASHINGTON-It is back to square one in the search for the next president of the Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association. Rep. Chip Pickering (R-Miss.) turned down the job last week.
“It was the hardest professional decision that I have ever had to make,” Pickering told RCR Wireless News. “CTIA is the most effective association in Washington. It represents the most dynamic sector of our economy. These issues of the industry are both challenging and have far-reaching implications for American life. It is the only association that I would have ever considered. But I had to go through a hard process to determine what is my first calling and I believe that is public service and it really came down to just a matter of the heart. I am not sure you could make this decision with your head. The association is strong and will only get stronger and has a very bright future.”
CTIA said it was honored Pickering considered joining the organization. The process to pick a successor to CTIA President Thomas Wheeler has been kept very secret for months. Pickering’s name surfaced last month as a bona fide candidate for the million-dollar-a-year CTIA post.
Other names also have been circulating, but almost all of them have points against them. Former Rep. Dennis Eckart (D-Ohio), currently president of the Greater Cleveland Growth Association, is a friend of Wheeler who hails from Ohio. Selecting Eckart would make it easier for Wheeler to stay at the helm behind the scenes in his future consultancy role.
Wheeler, who pulls down a $2 million salary and oversees a $40 million budget, is set to head the association until the end of the year and after that will continue as a consultant.
Eckart served in the House from 1983 to 1993, during which time he became an influential member of the House Commerce Committee. After leaving Congress, Eckart became a high-powered lobbyist, representing CTIA, Motorola Inc., Verizon Communications Inc. and others.
Eckart, through spokeswoman Kati Tarmann, declined to comment recently on whether he has been approached or has interest in the top job at CTIA.
However, Eckart is a Democrat. The House Republican leadership has made it known that successful trade associations, advocacy groups and Fortune-500 government-relations offices will be led by Republicans. Choosing a Democrat could be seen as CTIA thumbing its nose at the “K Street Project”-so named since many top lobbyists have offices on or near the K Street NW corridor in downtown D.C.
Steve Berry, CTIA senior vice president for governmental affairs, is a Republican, but industry sources say he was told weeks ago that he was no longer being considered for the job. Berry was on vacation last week. Whether Pickering’s decision puts Berry’s name back in the hat is unclear.
