Christopher Boyle, center, says, "This will be my 32nd year in the building in one form or another." At a Senate caucus in 2004, Boyle is joined by Amy Kempe, left, and Kevin Horan.

He was a Senate page during high school, a clerk for the Senate Finance Committee in college, and a member of the House before graduating from law school. He served six terms and was the House majority whip for his last five years.

Boyle waited a year after leaving office — as required by law — and returned to the State House in 1994 as a lobbyist.

“This will be my 32nd year in the building in one form or another,” he says. “Whether a staff member, member or lobbyist, you get to be involved in the issues of the day. I consider myself very lucky to be able to do this.”

Boyle makes quite a bit more than the $300 annual salary he made as a legislator in the 1980s. Newport Grand pays him $7,000 each month, according to filings with the secretary of state’s office. Other clients include Constellation New Energy ($3,000 a month) and the Community Provider Network of Rhode Island ($16,500 a year).

But the 50-year-old Newport native says it’s not all about the money. He has refused a client on moral grounds, though he wouldn’t say which one. “You have to somewhat believe in your client’s position,” he says.

Boyle said that lobbyists play a significant role in Rhode Island government.

“I really do think a lobbyist does provide a great deal of information — members don’t have large staffs. They are involved in a lot of issues; it’s a very complicated job,” he says. “At points, they have to rely on information from lobbyists. They really do rely on your answer.”

Why would lawmakers trust a lobbyist for unbiased information?

“If you want to be in this building awhile, I think you need to have a reputation that you are a straight shooter and that they can rely on you, even when it may be to the detriment of your client,” he says. “My goal is to provide accurate information to members, hopefully that will be beneficial to my clients. However, there are times you have to give an honest answer that is not. In the long run, it helps the client.”