Extra Zero Put Popham Among Top Lobbyists

Our most loyal readers might remember a post last week that noted that Bryson F. Popham had moved up significantly in the most recent list of top-earning Annapolis lobbyists. Well ... never mind.

With reported earnings of $714,633, Popham made No. 3 on the State Ethics Commission's of top earners between Nov. 1 and April 30. He finished No. 18 during the same period a year ago.

It turns out the leap is explained almost entirely by a very large reporting error. Commission officials say Popham incorrectly reported receiving $384,000 from a single client, the Agency Insurance Company of Maryland. Knock off that last zero, and you get the correct figure: $38,400.

By our math, that puts Popham at $369,033 for the period. While not chump change, it is good for only No. 17 on the top-earnings list -- about the same as last year.

Commission officials say their list will be corrected and reposted in coming days.