Kevin Cate: age 29, but “49 in campaign years”; Tennessee native; Tallahassee resident; Auburn and Florida State graduate. He entered politics to “make a change. At the time, it was mainly the war in Iraq.”
He was given his first shots by Rick Penberthy, Alison Morano, Steve Schale, Mark Bubriski and Wendy Riemann, in that order. Kevin explains, “Rick hired me to run his campaign. Alison made Robert Becker hire me on another campaign and Steve Schale and Mark Bubriski were the only two politicos that made calls for me after the 2006 cycle to help me find work in Tallahassee. I didn’t get that job (with Alex Sink), but my cousin Anthony De Luise introduced me to Wendy Riemann, who hired me at the Department of Health. That eventually led me back to Alex Sink’s office about a year later. That’s a long first shot.”
Today Kevin heads up Kevin Cate Communications, an acclaimed Emmy®, Silver Anvil®, Telly® and Addy®-award winning PR firm. They take on “a handful of clients each year and we deliver big results”. They were part of the team that helped pass the federal RESTORE Act following the BP oil spill; led efforts to pass the Florida Vaccine Access Act; and helped defeat numerous bills that threatened the housing recovery in Florida.
Although he no longer keeps a list of all the politicians he’s staffed or flacked, Kevin seeks out a common denominator among them in principles: “There is nothing worse than working for a politician or client that is only driven by ego, power, or money. If I don’t believe you, I don’t want to work for you.” He sees Florida’s political reporters and editors as the finest in the country, by far; and were he not working in politics, he’d aspire to join their ranks.
Latest tweet from @KevinCate: “Our next Governor? RT @jmartpolitico: MT @darrenrovell: 1 PB winner. Zephyrhills, Fla. No state income tax, lump sum payout $300 mil.”
Here’s Kevin in his own words:
I am as close as it gets to being disqualified – 29 years young. 49 in campaign years.
I live in Tallahassee, Florida. I was born in Kingsport, Tennessee. I went to Auburn University and Florida State University. I hope to go on a vacation soon, but that’s not going to happen.
I entered politics to make change. At the time, it was mainly the war in Iraq.
One principle I always put above politics (and everything else) is family.
Person or people who gave me my first shot: Rick Penberthy, Alison Morano, Steve Schale, Mark Bubriski and Wendy Riemann, in that order, gave me my first shots.
Rick hired me to run his campaign. Alison made Robert Becker hire me on another campaign and Steve Schale and Mark Bubriski were the only two politicos that made calls for me after the 2006 cycle to help me find work in Tallahassee. I didn’t get that job (with Alex Sink), but my cousin Anthony De Luise introduced me to Wendy Riemann, who hired me at the Department of Health. That eventually led me back to Alex Sink’s office about a year later. That’s a long first shot.
I’ve already worked for/on: I used to keep a list of all of the politicians I’ve staffed or flacked. I don’t do that anymore, but it’s a long list of great statewide, national, regional, and local politicians. I also have lots of amazing corporate and non-profit clients. I post some of that work at www.Facebook.com/CateComm.
When I begin a project or first work on a campaign, I look for… Principles. There is nothing worse than working for a politician or client that is only driven by ego, power, or money. If I don’t believe you, I don’t want to work for you.
I’ve been blessed to have these people as my mentors: My father, Keith, and my mother, Paula, cultivated all of my communication instincts.
The people I most admire in politics are: In Florida, I have a tremendous amount of admiration for Alex Sink, an absolute trailblazer for women in business and politics in Florida. I love Mike Fasano’s unrelenting populism. I am grateful to fellow PR folks Cory Tilley and Peter Mitchell for always rooting for me. I love politicos with guts and initiative like Jordan Raynor and Beth Matuga (I started typing out more, but I don’t want to leave anyone off). But most of all, I admire the reporters and editors that cover Florida politics. We have the best set of state political reporters in the country, by far. They don’t get enough credit.
One lesson I’ve already learned is… The most important rule in politics and press: never lie. Never, ever lie.
If I wasn’t working in politics, I’d be working in (which field)… Journalism.
In ten years, you’ll read about me… In ten years, you’ll read about me in Saintpetersblog, I hope.
You can connect with me via www.Facebook.com/CateComm and Twitter @KevinCate.
