Photos: Florida’s political and policy power brokers party at Governor’s Inaugural Ball
Brian Burgess
A virtual who’s who of Florida’s political insiders donned tuxedos or evening gowns for the Inaugural Ball of Florida’s 46th Governor, Ron DeSantis and Florida First Lady Casey DeSantis.
The festivities featured the world-famous Scotty Barnhardt Orchestra, and later a live band, along with sparkling drinks, platters of hors d’oeuvres, and smiles all around. Here are just a handful of photos featuring just a small fraction of the attendees (click for the full sized image – and if I screwed up any captions with spelling or other errors, please email me):
Reknowned Rotunda podcaster and communications pro Trimmell Gomes with elite advance man Andy Le, communications pro Katie Strickland, and Luke Strickland from the Senate Majority Office
Surrounded by cameras, Florida’s new governor and first lady kick off the ball with a dance
Legendary co-founder of the Florida Gulf Coast University Republican Club and State Rep. Ray Rodrigues with his wife, Ruth
Anna Marie Rodriquez with HD93 State Rep. Chip Lamarca, government affairs pro Alyn Fernandez and Gunster litigator Robert Fernandez
The Scotty Barnhart Orchestra!
Cathi Rodgers, GreenbergTraurig government affairs guru Gus Corbella, Scotty Barnhardt (namesake of the Scotty Barnhardt Orchestra!) and Tanya Corbella (Midtown Reader)
DeSantis campaign and transition communications advisors Sarah Bascom and Kristen Bridges from Bascom Communications and Consulting.
Partygoers
Gala attendees party and munch on hors d’oeuvres
Revelers dancing into the night
A partygoer snaps a group photo
The crowd swells as more guests arrive
No, not Blue Man Group. It’s actually elite GOP political operatives Preston Wilson and Brian Swensen
Strategos Group education expert Nicholas Mortellaro, DeSantis Transition Liaison and Outreach Director Tara Reid, and Strategos Group’s top health care expert, Orlando Pryor
NFIB Florida’s crack team: Legislative Director Tim Nungesser, Communications Director Kristen Butler, and NFIB Executive Director Bill Herrle
Former RPOF Executive Director, now Enterprise Florida Executive Vice President Mike Grissom with elite communications pro and DeSantis Transition advisor Danielle Alvarez
Digital maven Matt Farrar of Strategic Digital Services, his wife, Anna Farrar (communications director for Florida CFO Jimmy Patronis), Jenn Ungru (corporate affairs advisor for Jones Walker consulting firm) and her husband, former political operative-turned policy expert Greg Ungru
Former Deputy Secretary for the Florida Department of Health, Marty Stubblefield, with wife Amy Stubblefield
Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association CFO Bob Dearden with former Scott Administration communications advisor Karen Smith (now with Visit Florida)
Kacy Clark (Aloft Hotel sales and marketing), alongside Hill+Knowlton communications pros Tripp Farmer and Kristen McDonald
Liberty Partners President and Owner Jennifer Green with Elena Garcia and Liberty VP Melanie Bostick
Jason Pepe, government relations director for the eighth-largest school district in the United States: Hillsborough County, Florida
Power couple Hayden Dempsey (GreenbergTraurig’s top government and policy guru) and wife Angela Dempsey (VP at Poole McKinley) – both were former Scott Admin legislative affairs advisors
Josh Barnhill, legislative aide to State Senator and soon-to-be RPOF chairman (I guarantee it) Joe Gruters (middle), with Sarasota County Commissioner and soon-to-be RPOF vice-chair (I again guarantee it) Christian Ziegler
A focused photo of Greg Ungru with Anna and Matt Farrar
Florida First Lady Casey DeSantis and Florida’s 46th Governor Ron DeSantis arrive at the Inaugural Ball in their honor.
Governor and First Lady Ron and Casey DeSantis
Renewable energy expert Erika MacKinnon with reknowned lobbyist / government affairs expert Jon Costello, joined by Josh Aubuchon (senior government affairs counsel for Holland & Knight) and his wife, communications pro Allison Aubuchon
The most trusted woman in Florida, Diane Moulton (Director of the Governor’s Executive Staff for three governors: Crist, Scott and now, DeSantis) alongside Florida’s National Guard Commander, Maj. General Michael Calhoun.
Tallahassee real estate pro Dee Dee Myers, Jay Stewart, and legislative affairs pro / environment expert Katie Kelly
Tallahassee’s dynamic duo, elite political and policy consultant David Johnson and his wife, Christina Johnson (public relations pro, founder of On3PR, and top campaign / comms advisor to newly sworn Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody)
Dave Vasquez (Governor DeSantis’s press secretary) with Leon GOP Chairman and government affairs guru Evan Power.
Dancing at the Governor’s Inaugural Ball
Brittany Dover (rising legislative affairs star) and Ashley Dover (DoubleTree Hotel)
Classic Brian Swensen the vaunted political operative and ground game expert
Brian Burgess (yours truly), the Publisher & Editor-in-Chief of The Capitolist, alongside digital news pioneer and elite government affairs advisor Justin Sayfie of Ballard Partners
Former publisher of the News Service of Florida Ruth Herrle with husband
and NFIB Florida Executive Director Bill Herrle
A sketchy, unfocused photo that doesn’t do the man justice: Andrew Rutledge, Florida Realtors public policy expert
Florida Board of Education appointee Andrew Pollack and wife Julie Pollack with digital media guru and Sarasota County Commissioner Christian Ziegler
