HomeMy WebLinkAboutR-2003-220 Tidewater Lobbyist Consultant fy 03 04 RESOLUTION NO. 2003-220
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF DANIA BEACH, FLORIDA
AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE AN
ENGAGEMENT LETTER WITH TIDEWATER CONSULTING
INCORPORATED FOR THE PROVISION OF CONSULTING
SERVICES IN CONNECTION WITH 2O03-2004 FLORIDA
LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED
$60,000.00, WITHOUT COMPETITIVE BIDDING AND
WITHOUT ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS; PROVIDING FOR
CONFLICTS, FURTHER, PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE
DATE.
WHEREAS, the Charter of the City of Dania Beach, Part III, Article 3, Section 4,
subsection 0), authorizes the City Manager to purchase supplies, services, equipment
and materials for the city government in amounts in excess of $15,000.00 without
competitive bidding and without advertisement for bids if he is authorized to do so in
advance by a resolution adopted by the City Commission and if such purchases are, as
prescribed in pertinent part in the Charter, needed due to unusual conditions or
emergencies; and
WHEREAS, the City Manager has determined that consulting services needed by
the City can be obtained at the least cost by executing an engagement letter with
Tidewater Consulting Incorported, 200 West College Avenue, Suite 308, Tallahassee,
Florida 32301, for consulting services to be provided in connection with economic
development issues of concern to the City for the 2003-04 Florida Legislative Session,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE
CITY OF DANIA BEACH, FLORIDA:
Section 1. That the City Commission finds that due to the presence of unusual
conditions, it is necessary to authorize the City Manager to purchase consulting
services from the general fund budget in an amount not to exceed $60,000.00 for the
fiscal year 2003/04 pursuant to an engagement letter with Tidewater Consulting
Incorported, 200 West College Avenue, Suite 308, Tallahassee; Florida 32301, a copy
1 RESOLUTION NO. 2003-220
of which is attached to and made a part of this Resolution; therefore, such engagement
letter is approved and the City Manager is authorized to execute same.
Section 2.The City Manager and City Attorney are authorized to make minor
revisions to such engagement letter as are deemed necessary and proper for the best
interests of the City.
Section 3. That all resolutions or parts of resolutions in conflict with this
resolution are repealed to the extent of such conflict.
Section 4. That this resolution shall be in force and take effect immediately upon
its passage and adoption.
PASSED and ADOPTED this 23Id day of September, 2003.
BGtANTON
MAYOR — CO MISSIONER
ATTEST: ROLL CALL:
COMMISSIONER CHUNN —YES
COMMISSIONER FLURY - YES
CHARL NE JO ON COMMISSIONER MIKES - YES
CITY CLERK VICE-MAYOR MCELYEA - YES
MAYOR ANTOW YES
APPROVED AS TO ORM AND CORRECTNESS:
BY: .
'\, 4,THO ,AS..J° ANSBRO
CITY ATTORNEY
2 RESOLUTION NO. 2003-220
TIDEWATER
CONSULTING
I N C O R P O R A T E D
September 23, 2003
VIA FACSIMILE AND FEDERAL EXPRESS
Ivan Pato, City Manager
City of Dania Beach
100 West Dania Beach Blvd.
Dania Beach, Florida 33004
RE: Representation
Dear Mr. Pato:
Tidewater Consulting, Inc. ("Tidewater") welcomes the opportunity to present this
proposal for professional consulting services to the City of Dania Beach (the "City"). Tidewater
® is a full-service consulting firm, with a long history of assisting clients in obtaining their
objectives with the Florida Legislative and Executive Branches of government. Tidewater will
assist the City with issues before the Florida Legislature and Executive Branch as directed by the
City.
I will be the consultant with primary responsibility for these matters; however, each
Tidewater consultant is available to assist as necessary. Tidewater will represent the City from
October 1, 2003 through September 30, 2004. Our fee is $60,000, payable in 3 installments of
$20,000 each, due on January 15, 2004, April 15, 2004, and August 15, 2004.
It is Tidewater's policy to provide the most effective support systems available, while at
the same time allocating the cost of such systems in accordance with the usage of the services by
individual clients. Tidewater may also bill the City from time to time for expenses associated
with its representation of the City upon advance written approval from the City Manager. Any
such expenses shall not exceed Two Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($2,500.00) during the term
of this agreement. "Expenses" shall mean only those costs expressly approved by the City
Manager, in advance, when deemed by him to be in the best interests of the City. Expenses shall
exclude all costs associated with travel, vehicle expenses and lodging of any kind, except travel
between Tidewater and the City (including vehicle expenses and lodging) that is approved in
advance by the City Manager.
,15,,i�eply to: ❑ Reply to:
TALLAHASSEE OFFICE ACKSONVILLE OFFICE
200 vVest College Avenue • Suite 3o8 One Independent Drive • Suite 3205
Tallahassee, Florida 32301 Jacksonville. Florida 32202
(850) 68 1-6400 • Faz: (850) 681-0080 (904) 358-19 7 4 • Fay: (904) 354-4813
® Ivan Pato, City Manager
September 23, 2003
Page Two
Tidewater and the City agree that this contract may be canceled with or without cause at
any time upon the giving of thirty (30) days written notice to the other party. Notwithstanding
the payment schedule set forth in this agreement, should either party terminate this agreement,
Tidewater shall be entitled to professional service fees equal to $5,000 per month for each month
or portion thereof from October 1, 2003 through the effective date of the termination of this
agreement.
Tidewater agrees to abide by all policies, ordinances and rules established by the City, as
well as all local, state and federal laws governing representations of municipalities by lobbyists.
Tidewater asserts that there are no inherent conflicts associated with the foregoing
representation.
If the foregoing accurately reflects your understanding of our agreement, please sign
below and return a copy of this letter of me.
We look forward to representing the City of Dania Beach and appreciate your
consideration of us as your consulting firm in these matters.
Sincerely,
Richard E. Coates
Accepted and agreed to this -1 day of.jqt 2003.
City of Dania Beach
B
y. By:
Pato aigrlene Johns n
Title: rite=, mna4er City Clerk
k
Y
•
® fi QV, FLORIDA
y
September 30, 2003
Richard E. Coates, Esq.
Tidewater Consulting Inc.
200 W. College Avenue, Suite 308
Tallahassee, FL 32301
Dear Mr. Coates:
RE: CONSULTING SERVICES —CITY OF DANIA BEACH
Please find enclosed herewith a copy of Resolution No. 2003-220 adopted
by the Dania Beach City Commission on September 23, 2003, as well as an
original of the Engagement Letter signed by City Manager Ivan Pato.
If you have any questions, please contact us at 954-924-3624.
Sincerely,
li'friam Nasser
Deputy City Clerk
Enclosures
"Broward's First City
100 West Dania Beach Boulevard Dania Beach, Florida 33004 Phone: (954) 924-3600 www.ci.dania-beach.fl.us
r
TIDE 'AT
CONSULTING
INC ORPORA .TED
FAX COVER SHEET
TO: Charlene Johnson FROM: Richard Coates
FAX: 954-921-2604 PAGES: 3
PHONE: DATE: 9/22/03
RE: CC:
® URGENT FOR REVIEW PLEASE REPLY PLEASE COMMENT
COMMENTS:
Original to follow via US Mail
IF PROBLEMS OCCUR WITH THIS TRANSMISSION, PLEASE CALL (850) 681-6400
NIEN40RANDUM: THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS TELECOPY MESSAGE IS CONFIDENTIAL, AND
PRINILEDGED INFORMATION INTENDED ONLY FOR THE USE OF THE INDIVIDUAL OR ENTITY NAMED AVOVE. IN'
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DISSEMINATION,DISTRIBL7TION,OR COPYING OF THIS COMMUNICATION IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED.
•
1 �c
rpp
TIDEWATER
CONSULTING
I N C O R P O R A T E D
September 22, 2003
VIA EMAIL AND US MAIL
Ivan Pato, City Manager
City of Dania Beach
100 West Dania Beach Blvd.
Dania Beach, Florida 33004
RE: Representation
Dear Mr. Pato:
Tidewater Consulting, Inc. ("Tidewater") welcomes the opportunity to present this
proposal for professional consulting services to the City of Dania Beach (the "City"). Tidewater
is a full-service consulting firm, with a long history of assisting clients obtain their objectives
with the Florida Legislative and Executive Branches of government. Tidewater will assist the
City with issues before the Florida Legislature and Executive Branch as directed by the City.
I will be the consultant with primary responsibility for these matters; however, each
Tidewater consultant is available to assist as necessary. Tidewater will represent the City from
October 1, 2003 through September 30, 2004. Our fee is $60,000, payable in 3 installments of
$20,000 each, due on January 15, 2004, April 15, 2004, and August 15, 2004.
It is Tidewater's policy to provide the most effective support systems available, while at
the same time allocating the cost of such systems in accordance with the usage of the services by
individual clients. Therefore, in addition to our fees for representation, we also charge separately
for certain costs including messenger, courier and other office costs. You will also be billed for
any out-of-pocket expenses including overnight express charges, travel required in your
representation; meals for legislators and any other nonstandard office expenses. Any expenses of
this type above $250.00 will, of course, be discussed with you in advance.
If the foregoing accurately reflects your understanding of our agreement, please sign
below and return a copy of this letter of me.
® ❑ 1�eply lo: ❑ Reply to:
T \l-_L."'HASSEE OFFICE JACKS0N V1LLE OFFICF
Suite 308 One, IndeF(> ,,rl lent Drive • St lile. :t 111"ISSec'. Florida 3:'.301 .Jacksonville. Florida 322()"
F=�N: (85C) (>S 1 7OZ3n f90k1 3S8 1�J7 1 Fix: (nC)=t i :, _48 1
.[van Pato, City Manager
September 22, 2003
Page Two
We look forward to representing the City of Dania Beach and appreciate your
consideration of us as your consulting firm in these matters.
Sincerely,
Richard E. Coates
:'Accepted and agreed to this day of 2003.
City of Dania Beach
Qv;
Title:
TIDEWATER CONSULTING INCORPORATED
About Tidewater Consulting, Incorporated...
Tidewater Consulting, Inc., was founded in 1998 and has offices located in both
Tallahassee and Jacksonville, Florida. Members of the firm include Tom Slade,
Shelley B. Green, Richard E. Coates, Edward W. Blakely, Jr., Clint Smawley and
Noreen A. Fenner.
Tidewater is a full service firm, offering Legislative and Executive branch lobbying,
policy advocacy, campaign management, and regulatory and administrative
assistance. Tidewater's history and proven track record place it among the finest
of professional, high-quality Tallahassee firms.
The members of the firm are uniquely qualified to represent clients through proven
experience, unrivaled contacts in Florida's government and extensive ties to many
areas throughout Florida. Tidewater's members possess a wealth of political
® knowledge and experience including Legislative and Executive branch lobbying,
campaign coordination and management, grassroots issue campaigns and
political strategizing. The diverse and varied backgrounds of the team gives
Tidewater the unparalleled ability to understand issues affecting businesses
and to craft innovative solutions.
Tidewater enjoys excellent relationships with the leadership of the Florida Senate
and House of Representatives, as well as with the membership in general. In
addition, Tidewater has long-standing affiliations with the Office of the Governor,
members of Florida's Cabinet and with the Department and Agency heads.
About the History...
Many members of Tidewater Consulting, Inc. comprised the management of the
Republican Party of Florida during the most successful tenure in modern Florida
history. When Tom Slade took the reins as Chairman of the Party in 1993,
Democrats controlled the Governor's Mansion, the Cabinet, the Florida House of
Representatives, and a stalemate existed in the Florida Senate. The Florida
Republican Congressional delegation held a slim three-vote margin over the
Democrats. In addition, the Mayor of the City of Jacksonville was a Democrat.
200 West College Avenue, Suite 308 • (850) 681-6400 • Fax: (850) 681-7080
TIDEWATER CONSULTING INCORPORATED
Tom Slade and his team made the Republican Party of Florida a political force
unique in the nation while dramatically changing the make-up of Florida's
government. Among their accomplishments, are:
• A Republican Governor
• A Republican-controlled Cabinet
• A Republican majority of 26 seats in the Florida House of Representatives
• A Republican majority of 10 votes in the Florida Senate
• A Republican majority of 7 seats in the Florida Congressional Delegation
• A Republican Mayor of Jacksonville
As a political consulting firm, Tidewater Consulting has played major roles
in recent political events in Florida. Besides helping George W. Bush in
the historic Palm Beach County recount, Tidewater successfully managed some
of the most highly contested races of the 2000 election, including the
• campaigns of Senator Debby Sanderson and Representatives Jeff Atwater,
Andy Gardiner, Bruce Kyle and Jerry Paul. Tidewater also played a key role in
the summer of 2001 special elections with the back-to-back wins of Senators
Howard Futch and Steve Wise.
About the Firm...
Each member of the firm each has relationships with the elected members of
Florida's Legislative and Executive branches of government, as well as Department
and Agency heads and key members of the staff. Tidewater enjoys and has earned
its reputation for success when faced with challenges.
By advising incumbent legislators on the complexities of the legislative process, the
members of the firm are intimately involved with the inner workings of Florida's
governmental process.
Tidewater has developed significant relationships with key elected Republican and
Democratic officials in Florida. The various backgrounds of the team afford
Tidewater the opportunity to reach across part lines to create a coalition and secure
clients' objectives.
•
200 West College Avenue, Suite 308 • (850) 681-6400 • Fax: (850) 681-7080
TIDEWATER CONSULTING INCORPORATED
In addition to providing superior lobbying services, Tidewater's access to and
relationships with key decision makers in Florida's Departments and Agencies
allows it to sheppard clients' issues cleanly through the regulatory maze. The team
possesses vast knowledge of and experience in the interworkings of state and local
governments and knows how to accomplish the tasks set before it.
Tidewater's members have played key roles in many political campaigns. The team
is highly skilled in directing and managing campaigns, from local races to statewide
and federal. Tidewater assists its campaign clients in establishing strategy, raising
necessary funds, producing literature and brochures, and in getting the vote out.
Providing services in the following areas...
• Agriculture
• Appropriations
• Banking/Finance
• Business/Commerce
• Communications
• Development/Growth Management
• Education
• Energy
• Environment
• Gaming/Wagering
• Government, Federal , State and Local
• Healthcare
• High Speed Rail
• Insurance
• Legal
• Media/Public Relations
• Natural Resources
• Social Services
• Taxation
• Telecommunications
• Tourism
• Transportation
• Utilities
200 West College Avenue, Suite 308 (850) 681-6400 Fax: (850) 681-7080
------------
TIDEWATER CONSULTING INCORPORATED
Past and Present Client Listing of Tidewater Consulting, Incorporated...
• 21 TC, Inc. • Global Election Systems
• Alliance for Florida's Economy, Inc. • Hartford Life Insurance Company
• Alliance for Public Safety, Inc. • Heritage Information Systems, Inc.
• Anchor Gaming • HMTF Operating, L.P.
• Apollo Management L.P. • Hydromentia, Inc.
• Associated Industries of Florida • IMG Capital Management
• Assurant Group • Jacksonville Airport Authority
• Astrotech Space Operations, Inc. • Jacksonville Association of Firefighters
• Atlantic Civil, Inc. • Jacksonville Seaport Authority
• Atlantic Shores Healthcare, Inc. • Jacksonville Superbowl Committee
• Barr Laboratories • Lexington Partners
• BellSouth • Liberty Partners
• Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida • Lincoln Financial Group
• Carlsberg Management Company • Palm Beach Seaport Aquarium
• Carlyle Group • Peoples Gas System, Inc.
• CH2M Hill, Inc. • Prudential Financial, Inc.
® • Cigar Association of America, Inc. • Ramsay Youth Services, Inc.
• City of Jacksonville, Florida • Ripplewood Holdings, L.L.C.
• City of Layton, Florida • Rolling Meadow Ranch, Co.
• Coalition for Responsible Solutions, Inc. • Safety-Kleen Corp.
• Consumer Data Industry Association • Save 1 for the Keys
• Cornell Companies, Inc. • Schulenburg Consulting Corp.
• Cornerstone Group • Sentinel Monitoring, Inc.
• CSX Transportation • Siebert Brandford Shank&Co.
• Data Processing Consultants, Inc. • Skanska USA Building, Inc.
• DaVita Laboratory Services, Inc. • Southvest Land Group, Inc.
• Delaware Asset Management • SPACEHAB, Inc.
• Earth Balance • Sprint
• Eli Lilly&Company • Tampa Electric Company
• Emerald Dunes Golf Group • TECO Energy, Inc.
• Emerald Point Development L.L.C. • The Drummond Press
• Envirosafe Wood Treatment Product, L.L.C. • The Goodman Company
• First Data Corporation • The Neal Companies
• Florida Cable Telecommunications • Tort Reform United Effort
Associaton • Town of Pembroke Park
• Florida Farmers for Fairness • TSG Capital Group, L.L.C.
• Florida Retail Federation • UNF Training and Services Institute, Inc.
• Florida Telecommunications Relay, Inc. • United Space Alliance
• Florida Transportation Association, Inc. • Verizon
• Florida Water Services Company • VMS, Inc.
• Floridians for Commonsense Solutions, Inc. • White Hawk Pictures, Inc.
® • Full Sail Real World Education
200 West College Avenue, Suite 308 • (850) 681-6400 • Fax: (850) 681-7080
EDWAFiD W. BLLlKELY, JF6.
F8ICFBARD E. COATES
NOREE1d A. FEBN9dEFi
SFlELLEY B. GREEN
TOM BLADE
CLINT SMA1NLEY
EDWARD
W. L , ■
;yykr ' }'_ Ward Blakely runs the Jacksonville office of Tidewater
VSA{ m
Qg
Consulting, Inc. As a Jacksonville native, he has contacts
Ml
throughout the business and political communities in
y= g
sJ Florida's First Coast. Since joining Tidewater, he has
5tti. assisted Northeast Florida based governments and
businesses integrate state government solutions into their
operations. Ward's business experience in the
. ,; development field enables him to understand the
r problems that government presents to business, and his
political background enables him to help manage or
eliminate those problems.
Ward has a lifelong interest in the politics, history, and
the environment of Florida. He began volunteering for
political campaigns while in high school, and continued
that interest after college by working for the Republican
Party of Florida. As a Party employee Ward served as Coordinator of
Statewide Campaigns and Director of Research.
In 1995 Ward worked as Cabinet Aide to the Comptroller of the State of
Florida and the following year worked for a Presidential Campaign.
Ward attended Hampden-Sydney College in Virginia, earning a Bachelor of
Arts in 1993. He is currently working towards the completion of a Master in
Business Administration.
200 West College Avenue, Suite 308 • (850) 681-6400 9 Fax: (850) 681-7080
RICHARD Es COATES
Richard E. Coates joined Tidewater Consulting, Inc. in
February 2001. Richard is an attorney and a certified
public accountant. Before joining Tidewater, Richard was
a shareholder at Katz, Kutter, Haigler, Alderman, Bryant &
Yon, P.A., one of Tallahassee's largest law firms. For nine
years he worked for the Division of Florida Land Sales,
Condominiums and Mobile Homes, Department of
i Business Regulation, including service as Division
Director. Richard was also a sole proprietor of an
4a accounting practice.
07
Most of Richard's professional services have been in two
primary areas: representing clients before the Legislative
and Executive Branch Agencies and representing
taxpayers before the Florida Department of Revenue.
Richard practices in the area of state taxation and regulated entities and this
experience brings a wealth of knowledge to his clients' issues. Richard's past
legislative experience includes representing the Division of Florida Land Sales,
• while he was employed there. More recently, he represented mobile home
park operators, mortgage brokers, mutual investment companies, insurance
companies, private colleges, real estate development companies and other
business interests.
Richard received his Juris Doctorate from Florida State University in 1991 , his
Masters of Accounting in 1979 and B.S. in Accounting in 1977. Richard is a
member of the Tax Section of the Florida Bar and the American Bar
Association.
200 West College Avenue, Suite 308 • (850) 681-6400 e Fax: (850) 681-7080
NOREEN A. FENNER
Noreen A. Fenner joined Tidewater Consulting, Inc. in
August of 2001. Before joining Tidewater, Noreen was
Operations Manager for a start-up telecommunications
company, responsible for the Governmental and
Y Regulatory Affairs office. In addition to her legislative
and regulatory duties, she assisted the company with
new product development and risk assessment.
F
Noreen brings a wealth of legislative, political and
`k campaign experience to Tidewater. Her history includes
seven years with Katz, Kutter, Haigler, Alderman, Bryant
and Yon, P.A., where Noreen coordinated the firm's
extensive legislative and campaign efforts. Noreen also
served five years as the Legal Administrator for the
Tallahassee office of the national law firm, Foley &
Lardner, during which time the office was established.
After relocating to Florida from Michigan, Noreen served as the Administrator
for the Academic Task Force for Medical Malpractice and Tort Reform, which
• studied Florida's insurance crisis of the 1980's.
200 West College Avenue, Suite 308 9 (850) 681-6400 • Fax: (850) 681-7080
SHELLEY B. GREEN... . , Shelley B. Green is a founding partner in Tidewater
Consulting, Inc., bringing 12 years of experience in the
political arena to the firm. She plays a critical role in client
relations in addition to managing the day-to-day operations
of the firm.
INN-
' A native Floridian, Shelley was born and raised in
k T
Jacksonville, where she was an active participant in the
' s arts community. She began her career in the political
4= f arena by interning in the Tallahassee office of Senator
Connie Mack. She then served as the Executive Assistant
to the Chairman and Special Events Coordinator at the
Republican Party of Florida for six years during a period
of time which saw unrivaled growth and expansion of the
Republican agenda in Florida.
Shelley played a key role in the Republican Party's successful 1995 Presidency
III straw poll and the 1996 Republican National Convention. She planned and
was instrumental in the success of the Party's 1996, 1997, and 1998 Statesman's
Gala. While at the Party, Shelley planned the Florida delegations activities at
• the1996 Southern Republican Leadership Conference, organized campaign
schools, coordinated grassroots and volunteer efforts, and planned the Florida
activities for the Republican National Convention in 1996.
Shelley attended Florida Community College in Jacksonville on full academic
scholarship. She graduated from Florida State University in 1994 with a
Bachelor of Arts degree in International Affairs/Political Science. Shelley
received her Master of Social Science in Executive Management from
Florida State University in 2000.
200 West College Avenue, Suite 308 • (850) 681-6400 9 Fax: (850) 681-7080
CLINT SMAWLEY
Clint Smawley has over 18 years experience in
government, including nine years in the Florida Senate.
While serving in Florida government he was Staff Director
of the Rules and Calendar Committee, which formally
= q sets the agenda and interprets the rules of the Senate,
w � as well as Staff Director of the Senate Judiciary
Committee. Finally, Clint was the Chief Aide to the
Senate President responsible for implementing the
'P President's agenda as well as maintaining relations
with the Florida House and the Governor.
Clint was the campaign manager in a Florida
statewide race for the Cabinet position of Treasurer
., and Insurance Commissioner. He was responsible for
t Y
media relations, fundraising, campaign strategy and
overall management of campaign staff.
After leaving the Florida Senate, in 1992 Clint joined one of Tallahassee's
largest law firms, Katz, Kutter, Haigler, Alderman, Bryant & Yon, P.A.
® At the firm he was responsible for representation of over 300 property and
casualty insurance carriers relative to issues from workers' compensation to
homeowners insurance. In addition, he represented long term care facilities
with respect to tort reform, and credit bureaus. This representation extended
to matters pending before the Governor and Cabinet as well as Executive
Branch agencies.
Clint holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in management from Florida
State University and a Juris Doctorate from Cumberland School of Law.
While at Cumberland he was a member of Moot Court and The Cumberland
Law Review.
200 West College Avenue, Suite 308 9 (850) 681-6400 • Fax: (850) 681-7080
TOM SLA E
Tom Slade has enjoyed a long and successful career in
} Florida politics and business. He served as Chairman of
the Republican Party of Florida, for three consecutive
y
�F
terms from January 1993 to January 1999. He is
r Chairman of Dozier & Gay Industrial Coatings, a 100-year
old manufacturing firm that specializes in manufacturing
y liquid paint for industries.
A Florida resident since the age of ten, Tom was raised in
the small Clay county community of Kingsley Lake, and
he attended public schools in Starke. After graduating in
y=. 1957 from Southern Tech, where he served as student
body president, he owned and operated several L.P. gas
f. companies in northeast Florida.
In 1962, at age 25, Tom was elected to the Florida House of Representatives
as a Democrat from Duval County. After changing his party affiliation to
Republican in 1964, and waiting the then- mandatory two years, he was
elected to the Florida Senate, where he served until 1970, when he became
® the first Republican nominee for State Treasurer.
During the mid-1980's, Tom ran the successful campaigns in northeast Florida
for Bob Martinez, George Bush and Connie Mack. He was one of seven
Floridians who served on the Personnel and Appointment Advisory Committee
for the Bush Administration. Tom was elected Vice-Chairman of the Florida
Taxation and Budget Reform Commission in 1990. He currently serves as a
member of the Board of Directors of Florida TaxWatch.
In 1994, Tom was elected Chairman of the Republican National Committee's
13 state Southern Region, in which he served until 1999. And, in January
1999 he was a candidate for Chairman of the Republican National Committee.
Tom is CEO and Chairman of Tidewater Consulting, Incorporated. He was
elected on January 29, 2000, to serve as the National Committeeman for the
Republican Party of Florida and is the current Chairman of the Duval County
Republican Executive Committee.
200 West College Avenue, Suite 308 • (850) 681-6400 • Fax: (850) 681-7080