The return of Mike Grissom

in Statewide/Top Headlines by

It’s been an interesting six months for Republican political operative Mike Grissom, someone we’ve described as one of the brightest minds in Florida politics.

After inexplicably leaving the Florida Chamber of Commerce, the former executive director of the Republican Party of Florida quarterbacked Leslie Dougher’s unsuccessful re-election bid as chair of the RPOF.

Since then, Florida political observers have been wondering where the highly talented, sharp-minded Grissom would end up next. After all, you can’t keep a good man like Grissom down for too long.

We’re hearing that Grissom will soon be named the vice president of government affairs at Enterprise Florida, the public-private organization charged with luring businesses to Florida. Such a posting would be a significant change-of-pace for a campaign animal like Grissom.

Then-RPOF Chairman Lenny Curry hired Grissom in 2011 after he worked as a campaign operative in 11 states. He also served on Gov. Rick Scott’s 2010 campaign, and was appointed deputy executive director of the Florida GOP by former Chairman Dave Bitner.

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Material from the Florida Times-Union was used in this post.

Peter Schorsch is the President of Extensive Enterprises and is the publisher of some of Florida’s most influential new media websites, including SaintPetersBlog.com, FloridaPolitics.com, ContextFlorida.com, and Sunburn, the morning read of what’s hot in Florida politics. SaintPetersBlog has for three years running been ranked by the Washington Post as the best state-based blog in Florida. In addition to his publishing efforts, Peter is a political consultant to several of the state’s largest governmental affairs and public relations firms. Peter lives in St. Petersburg with his wife, Michelle, and their daughter, Ella.