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Awards & Recognition
Capitol Inside – January, 2011
Texas Lobby Power Rankings
- The Texas Capitol Group #1 on list of state’s most powerful lobby teams.
- Mike Toomey, Bill Messer and Walter Fisher retain their places among the rankings’ top 10 lobbyists.
- Lara Keel, Billy Phenix, Joe Garcia and former state Sen. Kyle Janek are also listed among the state’s best lobby players.
- Regarding Mike Toomey’s spot at the top of Capitol Inside’s power rankings, Inside’s Mike Hailey said, “…it should come as no surprise that no one is rated higher on Capitol Inside’s Texas Lobby Power Rankings for 2011.”
- Regarding Lara Keel’s jump from “rising star” status – an award she received four years ago -- to her spot among the state’s top twenty lobbyists in 2011, Capitol Inside says, “…she’s become the go-to lobbyist for Republican women legislators…”
- Other Texas Capitol Group team members received special recognition, like Eric Bearse, who was ranked eighth on the list of Political Consultants Who Lobby, and Rossanna Salazar of ROSS Communications, who heads up the Texas Capitol Group’s communications arm.
Capitol Inside – January, 2009
Texas Lobby Power Rankings
- The Texas Capitol Group #1 on list of state’s most powerful lobby teams.
- Mike Toomey, Bill Messer and Walter Fisher win spots among Capitol Inside’ top 10 lobbyists. Billy Phenix, Joe Garcia and Lara Keel are also listed among the state’s best lobby players.
Capitol Inside – January, 2007
Texas Lobby Power Rankings
- Mike Toomey recognized as Texas’ top lobbyist, followed by Bill Messer. Walter Fisher, Billy Phenix and Joe Garcia also are among Texas’ leading lobbyists.
- The Texas Capitol Group tops Capitol Inside’s list of top lobby teams in Texas.
- Lara Keel ranks among the rising lobby stars to watch.
Capitol Inside – January, 2006
Texas Lobby Power Rankings
- Bill Messer, Mike Toomey and Walter Fisher are among the top 10 lobbyists in Texas. Joe Garcia is listed among the top 50.
- The Texas Capitol Groups’ Billy Phenix and Lara Keel are two of the top five rising lobby stars to watch.
Texas Monthly – February, 2005
Power: The 23 other most powerful people in Texas politics.
- Bill Messer and Mike Toomey are two of the top four lobbyists among the top 25 most influential people in Texas politics for 2005.
Capitol Inside – January, 2005
Texas Lobby Power Rankings
- In 2005, Bill Messer and Mike Toomey share the title as Texas’ #1 lobbyists. Walter Fisher, Billy Phenix and Joe Garcia are among the top 50.
Capitol Inside – January, 2004
Texas Lobby Power Rankings
- Bill Messer is recognized as Texas’ top lobbyist, while the Texas Lobby Group ranks among the top lobby teams.
Texas Monthly – May, 2003
The Enforcer
For the past twenty years, Mike Toomey has loomed large in state government. He is unquestionably the most powerful – and the most feared – nonelected person in Texas politics today.