Snyder chief will join law firm after leaving state job

LANSING, Mich. (AP) - Gov. Rick Snyder’s chief of staff will lead a law firm’s lobbying group after leaving state government.

Dennis Muchmore will join Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn LLP on Feb. 1. His last day in Snyder’s office is Jan. 20.

Muchmore founded a Lansing lobbying firm in 1988 and later led the Michigan United Conservation Clubs.

Michigan does not prohibit public officials from immediately registering as lobbyists, except when a lawmaker resigns during a term.

Muchmore, who is not a lawyer, told the Detroit Free Press (https://on.freep.com/1OHqdt9 ) on Monday that he will not be “pigeonholing” legislators and will focus on improving the understanding of public policy issues, but he will register as a lobbyist because “if you’re dabbling on the edge of lobbying, you ought to register as a lobbyist.”

The 69-year-old Muchmore’s departure was announced in August. He has been chief since the Republican governor took office five years ago. He had previously severed all ties with his old lobbying business, Muchmore Harrington Smalley & Associates LLC.

Snyder’s communications director Jarrod Agen will succeed him as chief of staff.

Honigman said Muchmore will mentor the next generation of attorneys in its government relations and regulatory practice group. Muchmore said in a statement that it has been an honor to serve with Snyder and the new job is an “opportunity to give back and help others prepare to do great things.”

Rick Wiener, who was chief of staff to Snyder’s predecessor, Democratic Gov. Jennifer Granholm, also returned to lobbying after three years in state government.

—-

This story has been modified to correct Muchmore’s quote in the fifth paragraph to “… you ought to register as a lobbyist,” instead of “… you ought to resister as a lobbyist,” and to correct that Rick Wiener was chief of staff to former Gov. Jennifer Granholm, not Gov. Rick Snyder.