A former top aide to Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chairman Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., has joined a lobbying shop that focuses on energy and environment issues.
Stephen Ward, the New Mexico Democrat’s former chief of staff, has joined VH Strategies, a small firm founded in 2007 by Bob Van Heuvelen, a former chief of staff to Democratic Sen. Kent Conrad, D-N.D.
In his new role, Ward will grow the firm’s roster of energy and tax clients, especially among those affected by congressional or regulatory action involving the Energy and Interior departments and the Environmental Protection Agency.
“We are delighted that Stephen is joining our team at VH Strategies. He brings a wealth of policy and political expertise, congressional relationships and private-sector working knowledge to the firm,” Van Heuvelen, said in a statement sent to National Journal. “Stephen and I have been close friends and colleagues for years and we both look forward to the opportunity to work together again.”
In Congress, Ward chaired the weekly meeting of Senate Democratic chiefs of staff and was a board member of a bipartisan Senate chiefs of staff organization, giving him relationships among the most-senior Senate aides.
So far this year, VH Strategies has brought in about $1.1 million in lobbying revenue. Last year, the boutique firm made about $2 million, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.
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