Alcalde & Fay is a

lobbying In politics, lobbying, persuasion or interest representation is the act of lawfully attempting to influence the actions, policies, or decisions of government officials, most often legislators or members of regulatory agencies. Lobbying, which ...

firm based in

Arlington, Virginia Arlington County is a county in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The county is situated in Northern Virginia on the southwestern bank of the Potomac River directly across from the District of Columbia, of which it was once a part. The county ...

. 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. In 2009, Barry Zorthian (1920-2010), most notably a senior

press officer A press secretary or press officer is a senior advisor who provides advice on how to deal with the news media and, using news management techniques, helps their employer to maintain a positive public image and avoid negative media coverage. Duti ...

during the

Vietnam war The Vietnam War (also known by other names) was a conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. It was the second of the Indochina Wars and was officially fought between North Vietnam a ...

, was a communications consultant with the firm. Former Florida Congressman Louis A. "Skip" Bafalis is a consultant with the firm. In 2011, the firm said it had 45 partners and staff members.Rehill, John
"Alcalde & Fay Lobbying Firm Yields New Promise for Manatee Port Goals"
, ''The Bradenton LTimes'', August 19, 2011 2:05 am. Retrieved 2011-08-23.

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 OpenSecrets is a nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C., that tracks data on campaign finance and lobbying. It was created from a merger of the Center for Responsive Politics (CRP) and the National Institute on Money in Politics (NIMP) ...

. 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). The firm's full list of clients, past and present, is maintained on its website. 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."

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. 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.'"Note to Readers"
''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid d ...

'' (2009-02-19).

References

External links

Firm website
{{Authority control Business services companies established in 1973 Companies based in Virginia Lobbying firms