The American Association of Political Consultants (AAPC) is the trade group for the political consulting profession in the United States. Founded in 1969, it is the world's largest organization of political consultants, public affairs professionals and communications specialists.[1] Its "multipartisan" membership consists of political consultants, pollsters, media consultants, campaign managers, corporate public affairs officers, professors, lobbyists, fundraisers, congressional staffers, and vendors.[2]
The American Association of Political Consultants maintains a Code of Professional Ethics for members. Applicants for AAPC membership are required to sign the code, and to live by the standards it sets, as a condition of membership in the organization.
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The American Association of Political Consultants hosts the annual Pollie Awards and Conference. The Pollie Awards are the most prestigious awards in the field of political campaign and public affairs industry, in which the AAPC recognizes the best in the business of political professionals in hundreds of political campaign and public affairs categories.[3] The AAPC also hosts several regional conferences throughout the year that feature several panelists who are specialists for the upcoming elections. For example this year's Regional Conference Series focuses on:
Even though 2010 is only a few months away, consultants know that the world of political communication is changing at the speed of light. At Politics 2010, the industry's foremost authorities on political campaigns and strategy will gather for a view into what the future holds.
In this year's topic, 2009 Strategic Outlook, we discuss emerging trends in politics, and how professionals used them and are improving them in time for the 2010 election cycle. These one-day seminars will take place on the West coast in Sacramento and on the East in Washington, D.C. Join the nation's leading experts as they examine, discuss, and speculate about what we will see in 2010.
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Sacramento, October 5, 2009
Washington, D.C. October 19, 2009
The AAPC seeks to set the standards of conduct for political and public affairs consulting through its Code of Professional Ethics. The AAPC is the only organization in its field with a code of ethics for political professionalism.[4]
AAPC Officers
Chairman - Anthony Fazio, Winning Directions (D) - Direct Mail
President - Whit Ayres, Ayres McHenry (R) - Polling
Vice President - Dale Emmons, Emmons & Company, Inc. (D) - General
Secretary/Treasurer - Ed Goeas - Polling
Democrats
Cathy Allen - General
Brad Chism - General
Carol Dahmen - Communications
Gail Garbrandt - Trainer
Robert Kaplan - Fundraising, Initiatives, PACs, Trade Associations, Membership Development
Dawn Laguens - General
Mark Mellman - Polling
Jefrey Pollock - Polling
Richard Schlackman - Direct Mail
Jim Spencer - Direct Mail
Nancy Todd Tyner - General
Liz Welsh - Telephone Contact
Republicans
John Brabender - Media
Rebecca Donatelli - Internet
Art Hackney - General
Dan Hazelwood - Direct Mail Advertising
Thomas Hiltachk - Political - Election Law
Jim Innocenzi - Media
Wayne LaPierre - Public Affairs
Mike Mihalke - Public Affairs
Beth Miller - Public Affairs
Richard Norman - Direct Mail Fundraising
Frank Schubert - Public Affairs
Tom Shepard - General
Academics
Chris Arterton
Bruce Cain
William Connelly
James Thurber
AAPC Past Presidents
Wayne Johnson
Nancy Todd Tyner
Donna Lucas
Raymond Strother
Richard Woodword
Ralph D. Murphine
Thomas N. Edmonds
William R. Hamilton
Bradley O'Leary
Joseph R. Cerrell
Roy Pfautch
Phyllis B. Brothman
Matthew A. Reese
F. Clifton White
Joseph Napolitan, Founder