WASHINGTON — After more than 26 years as a lobbyist for the American Bankers Association, Floyd Stoner plans to retire at the end of the year.
A longtime fixture on Capitol Hill, Stoner is known for developing relationships with both Democrats and Republicans. "He had a lot of credibility talking to members of Congress behind the scenes," said Edward Yingling, the ABA's former president and chief executive.
Stoner joined the ABA in 1985 following a career as a political-science professor at Marquette University, where he had studied American government. In an interview, he said his experience with lawmakers has raised his opinion of public servants.
"I have tremendous respect for anyone in this country who is willing to put themselves through what we demand of our elected representatives," he said.
As a lobbyist, Stoner has represented the industry through two serious banking crises, and the fight over the landmark Dodd-Frank reform law. But when asked about the highlights of his career, he pointed to lesser-known piece of legislation — the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003 — which he called carefully-crafted, bipartisan law.
Stoner will stay in Washington after stepping down as the ABA's executive vice president for congressional relations and public policy. Ken Clayton and James Ballentine will assume leadership of the trade group's congressional-relations group.
