Alcalde and Fay

Alcalde & Fay is a lobbying firm based in Arlington, Virginia. The firm consists of over 35 former politicians, public relations specialists, lawyers, journalists, and corporate executives. A team of Alcalde & Fay associates and a senior partner handles clients. The firm practices in all areas of legislative affairs, communications, and government marketing.

History

Hector Alcalde founded the firm in 1973 and still serves as the company's Chairman. Alcalde's partner, Kevin J. Fay, serves as the firm's president and specializes in environmental and energy affairs. Fay is also currently the executive director of the International Climate Change Partnership.[1]

In 2009, Barry Zorthian (1920-2010), most notably a senior press officer during the Vietnam war, was a communications consultant with the firm.[2]

Former Florida Congressman Louis A. "Skip" Bafalis is a consultant with the firm.[3]

In 2011, the firm said it had 45 partners and staff members.[4]

Clients

Alcade & Fay represents a wide range of agencies, institutions, and municipalities. The firm's total lobbying income in 2006 was $10,300,000 and increased marginally in the following four years. The billings by client, and the clients by A&F employee, the top issues addressed as identified in quarterly federal lobbying reports, the agencies lobbied, the bills and related clients lobbied, and reports prepared by the firm are all detailed by OpenSecrets. The top six issues addressed in the first eight months of 2011: Fed Budget & Appropriations (162 quarterly reports), Environment & Superfund (84), Transportation, Clean Air & Water (34), Homeland Security (27) and Urban Development (23).[5]

The firm's full list of clients, past and present, is maintained on its website.[6]

In a Florida port authority presentation in 2011, co-founder Fay said the firm has "what has grown to be the largest maritime practice in Washington D.C."[4]

Controversy
Main article: John McCain lobbyist controversy

In 2008, a New York Times article suggested that Alcade & Fay lobbyist Vicki Iseman was involved in an inappropriately close relationship with Sen. John McCain, which may have caused McCain to favor Iseman's communications clients in matters before the Senate Commerce Committee. While the article alleged a possible romantic relationship between McCain and Iseman, the senator's presidential campaign vehemently denied any personal or professional impropriety.[7] Iseman proceeded by suing The New York Times for defamation; in 2009, the paper settled, and published a 'Note to Readers' stating 'The Times did not intend to conclude that Ms. Iseman had engaged in a romantic affair with Senator McCain or an unethical relationship on behalf of her clients in breach of the public trust.'[8]

References
  1. Alcalde & Fay Government and Public Affairs Consultants
  2. Barry Zorthian bio Archived 2011-06-12 at the Wayback Machine, mountainrunner.us/2009 Smith-Mundt Symposium, January 13, 2009. Retrieved 2011-06-30.
  3. L.A. Skip Bafalis Archived 2011-06-20 at the Wayback Machine bio, Alcalde & Fay website. Retrieved 2011-06-30.
  4. Rehill, John, "Alcalde & Fay Lobbying Firm Yields New Promise for Manatee Port Goals" Archived 2012-03-28 at the Wayback Machine, The Bradenton [FL] Times, August 19, 2011 2:05 am. Retrieved 2011-08-23.
  5. Lobbying: Alcalde & Fay Summary, 2011, OpenSecrets
  6. Client list Archived 2011-09-10 at the Wayback Machine, A&F website. Retrieved 2011-08-23.
  7. For McCain, Self-Confidence on Ethics Poses Its Own Risk - New York Times
  8. "Note to Readers", The New York Times (2009-02-19).
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