Florida Council of 100
Encyclopedia
The Florida Council of 100 is a private, non-profit, non-partisan organization of Florida business leaders who advise the state's governor. The group's headquarters are in Tampa, Florida
and they celebrate their 50th year during 2011.
The full Council meets twice each year and has continued to provide that perspective to each governor over the last 50 years. However, the relationship between the Council and the Governor changed in 1999 with the inauguration of Jeb Bush
. Bush directly requested the support and involvement of the Council as soon as the election was over. He used the council to promote controversial ideas to state residents and politicians alike. They also defended Bush for his plan to eliminate job security for state workers.
Charlie Crist
was not a typical pro-business Republican governor, so the Council concentrated on educational issues during most of his term. Florida's new governor in 2011, Rick Scott, has a business background similar to Jeb Bush. He met with the council two weeks after winning the election and acknowledged that he is depending on those business leaders to allow him to fulfill his campaign promise of 700,000 new jobs in seven years.
The majority of Council members are Republicans, and many are major political campaign donors. In 1998, membership dues were $3,000 per year, generating half a million dollars that year.
The Council's non-profit filing with the Internal Revenue Service
states that their purpose is to "educate the community and promote economic development to provide a better standard of living for all Floridians."
Chairman Al Hoffman was more direct: "We want to be a force in shaping public policy. We want to be influential."
in creating the study, Closing the Talent Gap: A Business Perspective in January, 2010.
The council's website permits access to at least 26 Reports & Position Papers created since 1996.
The Florida Council of 100 is joining with NBC News
, National Journal
and the St. Petersburg Times
to sponsor a nationally televised debate of the leading Republican presidential candidates prior to the 2012 Republican National Convention
in Tampa.
Public Administration professor Lance deHaven-Smith commented:
The "privatization of public policy" goes against Florida's Sunshine Laws
, which separated business and government by requiring that government meetings be open to the public and other rules which limit campaign contributions.
Burke Kibler, a Democrat, longtime member and former chairman of the council stated: "It's clear that the current leadership tends to be more activist in the sense of wanting the council to help and benefit the program of the governor because most of them politically are attuned with what Governor Bush wants."
Little was published about the council before the Bush years. Research and interview requests for a 1998 article in Florida Today
caused concern among members, who considered it an intrusion. Chairman Hoffman insisted, "We're not a secret organization -- we're a closed organization."
St. Petersburg Times
publisher Andy Barnes, a Council member, pointed out that the council doesn't control the process of their recommendations becoming law. He added that most council members run private companies and make decisions without scrutiny. The council is not a philanthropic organization; state policy affects their businesses and they are motivated by self-interest, but they believe that what's good for business is good for the state.
Alex Sink
, former president of the Florida division of Bank of America
, gave up her Council leadership position because her Democratic husband ran against Bush in 1998. She warned that Republican domination of the Council could limit their ability to look at issues from more than one point of view.
Tampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
and they celebrate their 50th year during 2011.
History
The association was founded in 1961 at the request of then Governor Farris Bryant, who asked for advice on problems confronting the state from a business point of view. The Council was the first of its kind in the United States, and its website states that it "works with the Governor, the Chief Justice, the Legislature, as well as with private organizations, to achieve quality of life improvements for the people of Florida."The full Council meets twice each year and has continued to provide that perspective to each governor over the last 50 years. However, the relationship between the Council and the Governor changed in 1999 with the inauguration of Jeb Bush
Jeb Bush
John Ellis "Jeb" Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd Governor of Florida from 1999 to 2007. He is a prominent member of the Bush family: the second son of former President George H. W. Bush and former First Lady Barbara Bush; the younger brother of former President George W...
. Bush directly requested the support and involvement of the Council as soon as the election was over. He used the council to promote controversial ideas to state residents and politicians alike. They also defended Bush for his plan to eliminate job security for state workers.
Charlie Crist
Charlie Crist
Charles Joseph "Charlie" Crist, Jr. is an American politician who was the 44th Governor of Florida. Prior to his election as governor, Crist previously served as Florida State Senator, Education Commissioner, and Attorney General...
was not a typical pro-business Republican governor, so the Council concentrated on educational issues during most of his term. Florida's new governor in 2011, Rick Scott, has a business background similar to Jeb Bush. He met with the council two weeks after winning the election and acknowledged that he is depending on those business leaders to allow him to fulfill his campaign promise of 700,000 new jobs in seven years.
Membership
According to the group's website, membership is by invitation from the existing council members, who select recognized and successful leaders from all types of Florida businesses, not elected public service. Those chosen must demonstrate a commitment to the state and believe in the goals of the council. Additionally, they should exhibit character and have been involved in public policy issues. The Council claims that they are committed to diversity of their membership.The majority of Council members are Republicans, and many are major political campaign donors. In 1998, membership dues were $3,000 per year, generating half a million dollars that year.
Objectives
As business leaders, the members of the Council feel responsibility and have the determination to improve Florida. The Council's 1998 mission statement elaborates: "To be a forum of strategic thinkers and leaders having a major positive effect on Florida public policy which enhances the quality of life and economic well-being of all Floridians."The Council's non-profit filing with the Internal Revenue Service
Internal Revenue Service
The Internal Revenue Service is the revenue service of the United States federal government. The agency is a bureau of the Department of the Treasury, and is under the immediate direction of the Commissioner of Internal Revenue...
states that their purpose is to "educate the community and promote economic development to provide a better standard of living for all Floridians."
Chairman Al Hoffman was more direct: "We want to be a force in shaping public policy. We want to be influential."
Projects
When the council identifies a subject as critically important to the state, they form a task force to research the issue, define problems and possible solutions in a position paper or report. Outside organizations are frequently utilized as a resource to assist in the process. The council partnered with the Florida Chamber of CommerceFlorida Chamber of Commerce
The Florida Chamber of Commerce is an organization devoted to the advocacy of private businesses in the state of Florida.This Chamber originated in 1912, and included its first continuing group in 1916, the Florida Tick Eradication Committee...
in creating the study, Closing the Talent Gap: A Business Perspective in January, 2010.
The council's website permits access to at least 26 Reports & Position Papers created since 1996.
The Florida Council of 100 is joining with NBC News
NBC News
NBC News is the news division of American television network NBC. It first started broadcasting in February 21, 1940. NBC Nightly News has aired from Studio 3B, located on floors 3 of the NBC Studios is the headquarters of the GE Building forms the centerpiece of 30th Rockefeller Center it is...
, National Journal
National Journal
National Journal is a nonpartisan American weekly magazine that reports on the current political environment and emerging political and policy trends. National Journal was first published in 1969. Times Mirror owned the magazine from 1986 to 1997, when it was purchased by David G. Bradley...
and the St. Petersburg Times
St. Petersburg Times
The St. Petersburg Times is a United States newspaper. It is one of two major publications serving the Tampa Bay Area, the other being The Tampa Tribune, which the Times tops in both circulation and readership. Based in St...
to sponsor a nationally televised debate of the leading Republican presidential candidates prior to the 2012 Republican National Convention
2012 Republican National Convention
The United States 2012 Republican National Convention, in which delegates of the Republican Party will choose the party's nominees for President of the United States and Vice President of the United States, will be held during the week of August 27, 2012, in Tampa, Florida at the St...
in Tampa.
Concerns
The intimate relationship between the council and then Governor Bush raised questions among Bush's critics, who saw potential conflicts. Florida State UniversityFlorida State University
The Florida State University is a space-grant and sea-grant public university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a comprehensive doctoral research university with medical programs and significant research activity as determined by the Carnegie Foundation...
Public Administration professor Lance deHaven-Smith commented:
"A group of un-elected officials who in their own right have enormous resources and power have become very influential in government without the larger electorate knowing much about it. There had been a sense that the government had been captured by the largest businesses and some of the businesses were like a shadow government -- it was exercised in back rooms and through financial contributions and indirect dealings."
The "privatization of public policy" goes against Florida's Sunshine Laws
Freedom of information legislation (Florida)
The open government laws in Florida are the most expansive among the United States. It has proceeded on three tracks:*Statutory public records↓ ,...
, which separated business and government by requiring that government meetings be open to the public and other rules which limit campaign contributions.
Burke Kibler, a Democrat, longtime member and former chairman of the council stated: "It's clear that the current leadership tends to be more activist in the sense of wanting the council to help and benefit the program of the governor because most of them politically are attuned with what Governor Bush wants."
Little was published about the council before the Bush years. Research and interview requests for a 1998 article in Florida Today
Florida Today
Florida Today is the major daily newspaper serving Brevard County. The Gannett corporation bought the paper in 1966.In addition to its regular daily publication, Florida Today publishes four weekly and eight biweekly community newspapers which are tailored for distinct neighborhoods within Brevard...
caused concern among members, who considered it an intrusion. Chairman Hoffman insisted, "We're not a secret organization -- we're a closed organization."
St. Petersburg Times
St. Petersburg Times
The St. Petersburg Times is a United States newspaper. It is one of two major publications serving the Tampa Bay Area, the other being The Tampa Tribune, which the Times tops in both circulation and readership. Based in St...
publisher Andy Barnes, a Council member, pointed out that the council doesn't control the process of their recommendations becoming law. He added that most council members run private companies and make decisions without scrutiny. The council is not a philanthropic organization; state policy affects their businesses and they are motivated by self-interest, but they believe that what's good for business is good for the state.
Alex Sink
Alex Sink
Adelaide "Alex" Sink is an American politician of the Democratic Party. Sink was the Chief Financial Officer for the state of Florida and treasurer on the board of trustees of the Florida State Board of Administration...
, former president of the Florida division of Bank of America
Bank of America
Bank of America Corporation, an American multinational banking and financial services corporation, is the second largest bank holding company in the United States by assets, and the fourth largest bank in the U.S. by market capitalization. The bank is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina...
, gave up her Council leadership position because her Democratic husband ran against Bush in 1998. She warned that Republican domination of the Council could limit their ability to look at issues from more than one point of view.
| Florida Council of 100 Chairmen | ||
|---|---|---|
| Member name | Years | Company |
| Fred Dickinson, Jr. | 1961-63 | Fisher, Dickinson & Prior |
| Raleigh Greene | 1963-64 | First Federal Savings and Loan of St. Petersburg |
| Benjamin Oehlert | 1964-65 | Minute Maid Minute Maid Minute Maid is a product line of beverages, usually associated with lemonade or orange juice, but now extends to soft drinks of many kinds, including Hi-C... |
| G T Willey | 1965-66 | Martin Company Martin Marietta Martin Marietta Corporation was an American company founded in 1961 through the merger of The Martin Company and American-Marietta Corporation. The combined company became a leader in chemicals, aerospace, and electronics. In 1995, it merged with Lockheed Corporation to form Lockheed Martin. The... |
| Fred Learey | 1966-69 | General Telephone GTE GTE Corporation, formerly General Telephone & Electronics Corporation was the largest independent telephone company in the United States during the days of the Bell System.... |
| Scott Linder | 1969-72 | Linder Industrial Machinery Co |
| Robert Thomas | 1972-74 | Exchange Bancorporation |
| J.P. Taravella | 1974-77 | Coral Ridge Properties WCI Communities WCI Communities, Inc. is an American home builder. The company offers single family and condominium homes. WCI also provides design, construction, financing, land purchases, marketing, and community management services. The company operates realty, mortgage, and title businesses. WCI is based in... |
| James Brown | 1977-79 | Southern Bell |
| Marshall Criser Marshall Criser Marshall McAllister Criser, Jr. is an American corporate lawyer and former university administrator. Criser is a native of New Jersey, and earned his bachelor's and law degrees before becoming a practicing attorney... |
1979-81 | Gunster, Yoakley, Criser & Stewart |
| H. L. Culbreath | 1981-83 | TECO Energy |
| Fred Drake, Jr. | 1983-84 | Mobile Home Industries |
| Burke Kibler | 1984-86 | Holland & Knight Holland & Knight Holland & Knight is an international law firm with more than 1,000 lawyers in 17 U.S. offices. Other offices around the world are located in Abu Dhabi, UAE, Beijing, China, and Mexico City, Mexico. Holland & Knight provides representation in litigation, business, real estate and governmental law.-... |
| Charles Rice | 1986-88 | Barnett Bank Barnett Bank Barnett Bank, founded in 1877, eventually became the largest commercial bank in Florida with over 600 offices and $41.2 billion in deposits. The purchase by NationsBank was announced August 29, 1997, but even before signs on Barnett's branches were changed, NationsBank merged with BankAmerica in... |
| Bill Dover | 1988-90 | Dover, PA |
| Whit Palmer | 1990-92 | MFM Industries |
| Jack Critchfield | 1992-94 | Florida Progress Corporation Florida Progress Corporation Florida Progress Corporation a.k.a. Florida Progress was a utility holding company based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The company was the parent company for Florida Power Corporation which distributed power over many parts of central and north Florida. The company merged with Carolina Power & Light... |
| Dick Nunis | 1994-96 | Walt Disney Attractions Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Walt Disney Parks and Resorts is the segment of The Walt Disney Company that conceives, builds, and manages the company's theme parks and holiday resorts, as well as a variety of additional family-oriented leisure enterprises... |
| Stew Turley | 1996-97 | Eckerd Corporation |
| Pete Carpenter | 1997-99 | CSX Corporation CSX Corporation CSX Corporation was formed in 1980 by the merger of Chessie System and Seaboard Coast Line Industries and eventually merged the various railroads owned by those predecessors into a single line that became known as CSX Transportation. Based in Richmond, Virginia, USA after the merger, in 2003... |
| Chuck Cobb | 1999–2001 | Cobb Partners |
| Al Hoffman | 2001–2003 | WCI Communities WCI Communities WCI Communities, Inc. is an American home builder. The company offers single family and condominium homes. WCI also provides design, construction, financing, land purchases, marketing, and community management services. The company operates realty, mortgage, and title businesses. WCI is based in... |
| Chris T. Sullivan Chris T. Sullivan Chris T. Sullivan is a founder, director and Chairman of the Board of Outback Steakhouse.From February 1991 to March 2005, Sullivan was Chief Executive Officer of OSI Restaurant Partners, INC.. From August 1987 to February 1991, he was President of the company... |
2003–2005 | Outback Steakhouse Outback Steakhouse Outback Steakhouse is an American casual dining restaurant chain based in Tampa, Florida with over 1200 locations in 22 countries throughout North and South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. It was founded in February 1988 in Tampa by Bob Basham, Chris T... |
| Peter Rummell | 2005–2007 | St. Joe Company St. Joe Company The St. Joe Company is a land development company formerly headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, United States. It is Florida's second largest private landowner, owning about in the state at the end of 2009.-Beginning:... |
| Tom James | 2007–2010 | Raymond James Financial |
| Steven Halverson | 2010–2012 | The Haskell Company The Haskell Company The Haskell Company is Florida's largest privately held construction company and Florida's 52nd largest private company. The Engineering News-Record named Haskell a top GREEN contractor and they rank among the top design/build firms in the US... |