According to the bio on his firm' website, Butch Maki opened his lobbying firm in 1992, after having served as then Congressman Richardson's District Director for a number of years. In the intervening years, Maki grew his lobbying operation into one of the most dominant firms in the state, a position that was further solidified in 2002 when his former boss was elected Governor.
Maki makes no secret of his close relationship with the governor, who he quotes on his website as saying:
"In the bottom of the ninth with the score tied, Maki would be my best bet for an RBI. That's how he played when he was on my team - the go to guy."
But today, Maki is the owner of his own team, which much like the New York Yankees, has a line-up of heavy hitters that people pay top dollar to see in action.
Maki's lineup includes two former Governor's--Republican David Cargo and Democrat Jerry Apodaca, Adriana Zavala Badala, a former Business and Legislative Liason for former Arizona Republican Governor, Fife Symington, Kathy Sisneros-- a former director of the Water and Waste Management Division of the New Mexico Environment Department, Dan Cordtz; a former TV correspondent ABC News and Wall Street Journal Correspondent, Cynthia Lee West; an expert in utilities and oil & gas development, Ray Armenta, a former investigator for the Dept. of Energy and the Dept. of Interior's Bureau of Land Management, Bryon Paez; former Richardson administration Director of Cabinet Affairs and Chief of Staff to house speaker Ben Lujan and Reese Edwards, the firms Vice-President, who hails from South Carolina where he served as an advisor to former Democratic Governor, Jim Hodges.
In starting the Victory Group, Maki has also acquired political talent with experience and personal contacts in the state, most notably, Mark Fleischer, who formerly served Democratic Party Chair of Arizona and more recently ran Mayor Marty's re-election campaign and was helping Jim Baca raise money for his race. In addition, Maki has also signed Josh Geise, who has been contracted to manage the Democratic Party of New Mexico's Coordinated Campaign.
According to Eric Appleman's Democracy in Action database of Presidential campaigns and campaign staff hosted at George Washington University, In 2003, Geise served as the Oklahoma State Director for the Joe Lieberman for President Campaign and "managed two congressional campaigns during the 2002 cycle: Richard Romero in New Mexico and Jill Long Thompson in Indiana (both unsuccessful). Successfully managed the Albert Pollard for Delegate campaign in Virginia. A graduate of Indiana University, he also served as communications director to Congressman Peter Visclosky (D-IN).''
The Democratic Party of New Mexico's website also identifies Josh Geise as the husband of the party's finance and compliance director, Tara Geise, who actually would be responsible for issuing payments to her husbands firm.
A Grassroots Outreach Campaign
With the addition of Fleischer and Geise to Suite J of Butch Maki enterprises, BM&A is able to offer a full compliment of services to their clients, be they candidates seeking office or corporations seeking an access. However, Victory Group isn't BM&A's first foray into world of campaigning and grassroots organizing, which the firm lists amongst its menu of services.
Examples of the firms past "Grassroots Outreach" efforts include an October 2001 "ANWR Rally of Support" held at the Sheraton Uptown with the New Mexico Coalition for ANWR.
A press release for the event read:
Advocates of Oil and Gas Exploration in ANWR Show Support at Gathering
Representatives from the agriculture, ranching, mining, business and organized labor communities will be calling on Senator Bingaman to support an energy package that includes opening ANWR to responsible oil and gas exploration. Labor and business groups agree that America needs to develop its own energy supplies that will create thousands of jobs and reduce our dependence on foreign oil supplies.
We encourage your attendance as we discuss:
* America's need to develop energy sources to meet increasing demand and
reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil
* The creation of thousands of jobs for America's working men and women.
* The economic impact of increased energy costs on America's farmers,
ranchers and businesses.
* Public support for ANWR
For further information or to confirm attendance please contact Butch Maki at +1-505-982-6764.
CONTACT: Christy Moran, +1-202-496-1000, for Arctic Power.
COPYRIGHT 2001 PR Newswire Association, Inc.
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