In late 2011, prior to the start of this years legislative session, a number ofleaders from the states biggest business lobbying groups -- including the Florida Chamber of Commerce and Associated Industries of Florida -- gathered in the Florida Capitol.
The assembly was to stand behind Gov. Rick Scotts call for reform of personal injury protection auto insurance.
While the states business interests often run with near similar stances on many topics, AIF President Tom Feeney noted this was the first time in years you had a press conference where you had the major business groups together.
The reform effort, a variation of which would be approved on the last day of the session, was a key topic for Scott.
Getting the business leaders together in a show of solidarity was the work of one of his key lieutenants, the 27-year-old Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Chris Finkbeiner.
Chris worked with a lot of different people, he really tried to make sure a lot of competing interests and everybody at the end of the day had the same goal, said Katherine Halley, the deputy chief of staff for Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island.
The Naples Gulf Coast High School graduate,son of a teacher and general contractor, has risen quickly in the Capitol, in large part because his political views align with leadership's, his ability to bring policy into practice, and he's had a champion in Scotts outgoing chief of staff, Steve MacNamara.
MacNamara calls Finkbeiner "the smartest person you never met."
"All you really need to know is, Chris is dog-loyal to Rick Scott," MacNamara said. "I really do believe, whenever Rick leaves office, he's going to adopt Chris, that's how much he thinks of him. Watching them together, they're like father and son."
MacNamara, whose son went to college with Finkbeiner, had recommended the young man to Haridopolos, then brought him over with him to the governors office last summer.
Since MacNamara's arrival, the governor's office has been reorganized so that MacNamara's office adjoins it at one end, and Finkbeiner's adjoins it at the other.
Finkbeiner knows his role on the team, quickly crediting Scott and his former bosses, including Haridopolos, for any achievements.
As with the personal injury protection issue, Finkbeiner said getting people together was made easier because Scott was fully behind the issue.
What sealed this was the governor was absolutely engaged, Finkbeiner said. He showed how committed he can be to something and was able to get it done by working hard, meeting with the legislators, and it paid off.
Scott worked with legislators on the PIP issue, holding one-on-one meetings with senators, and he visited the Senate floor following the vote.
Capitol insiders say Finkbeiner massaged the effort, combining his ability to push an issue while navigating the halls of the Capitol.
My sense was that Chris was very involved in (PIP), bringing the different stakeholders together, said Chamber Executive Vice President David Hart, who manages the business groups extensive legislative and political operations.
We have similar but sometimes different agendas, Feeney understated.Chris was good at knowing when to work with us, the senator, and not just on PIP.
It was the same with tort reform and prison privatization. We were asked by Chris to participate in a coalition. While those things didnt get done this year,
you now have a pretty united business community advocating, of which I think Chris was helpful in making sure those outside government were on the same page with the governor.
Chris is totally in line with the governors views and that makes him valuable.
The adjective that mostly spilled out of those who have worked with Finkbeiner, including Scott, was effective.
Chris is an effective member of my team and played a tremendous role in ensuring my legislative priorities were successfully passed this year, Scott stated in an emailed response.
A one-time journalism major at the University of Florida, before shifting to political science after deciding he enjoyed writing but didnt want to be a reporter, Finkbeiner has quickly worked his way up the inside of the Capitol since his first campaign -- while still in school -- for Rep. Bryan Nelson, R-Apopka.
Nelson, whose son, like MacNamara's, was in college with Finkbeiner, was seeking campaign help in 2006.
After graduating, Finkbeiner went to work for Nelson as a legislative aide, where he found a calling for policy, to dig into a topic, conduct the research and make recommendations.
And while Feeney and others have said Finkbeiner would fit in at a conservative think tank such as the Florida-based James Madison Institute or Heritage Foundation in Washington, D.C., Chris is focused on his current job.
I like working for this governor, Finkbeiner said. Ive learned a great deal from him and I think hes got a lot left to do.
BIO -- Chris Finkbeiner
Education: Gulf Coast High School; University of Florida, degree in political science, 2006.
Work: Summer 2006: Bryan Nelson campaign; Dec. 2006-May 2008: legislative assistance Rep. Bryan Nelson, R-Apopka; May 2008-Oct. 2010: political consultant, including managing campaign of Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island; Oct. 2010-Aug. 2011: deputy chief of staff, Senate presidents office; Aug. 2011-present: deputy chief of staff for policy, governors office.
Reach Jim Turner at jturner@sunshinestatenews.com or at (772) 215-9889.
