FOURTH FLOOR>FILES Significant other? Children? Wife, Jessica Hoppe, four boys, one girl: Max, Isabel, Liev, Blake and Felix. Plus, I work with Jon Yapo. In 25 words or less, explain what you do. As a lawyer and lobbyist, I advocate for clients and help them find solutions whether government is their pathway to change or their biggest obstacle to success. Without using the words Democrat, Independent or Republican, conservative or liberal, describe your political persuasion. I believe in a limited government that primarily both respects and relies upon the responsibility of the individual to his or her family, community and country. If you have one, what is your motto? Don’t have one, but since I am from New Jersey it might be: What’s a motto with me? Nothin’, what’s a motto with you? During your career, have you had a favorite pro bono client? I have enjoyed representing a variety of individual and nonprofit pro bono clients, but representing a family with a special needs child to help get the services she desperately needed stands out. Three favorite charities. Make-a-Wish, St. Jude, Guys with Ties. Any last-day-of-Session traditions? Don’t quit lobbying until it’s really, really over.
PHOTO: Mary Beth Tyson
What are you most looking forward to during the Legislative Session? Looking forward to seeing how the focus on health care reforms shakes out, and whether Florida can develop solutions that are models for national reform. Our Foley team is advocating for a few health care reforms this year.
Jonathan Kilman
ON “THE GODFATHER,” MOSES AND INVOKING THE FIFTH AMENDMENT
Professional accomplishment of which you are most proud? There isn’t one client accomplishment of which I am most proud, but I am proud that my colleagues and I have maintained a tireless work ethic over the years. Lobbyists are often accused of wearing Gucci loafers; do you own a pair of Gucci loafers? If not, why not? I don’t own Gucci loafers, but I have a pair of suede loafers that I break out on special occasions. Who is your favorite Florida Capitol Press Corps reporter and why? I plead the fifth on singling out any member of the press. Nothing good can come of it. Other than SaintPetersBlog.com, your reading list includes … For politics, it’s Sayfie Review and Drudge Report, daily. Sunday New York Times over coffee with my wife, Jessica, is a tradition. What swear word do you use most often? So hard to choose; they all make life so much more colorful. What is your most treasured possession? It’s not a tangible thing, it’s time with my family. My wife would say it’s my iPhone. The best hotel in Florida is … Boca Beach Club has become a favorite because it’s quickly accessible for a weekend and has never let me down. Ocean Reef Club is nice for disconnecting. You’ve just learned that you will be hosting a morning talk show about Florida politics. Who are the first four guests you’d invite to appear? I’d like to have Jeb Bush, Charlie Crist, Bill McCollum and Marco Rubio on all at once, so they could duke it out and argue why they’d be better at managing the state’s current challenges. Favorite movie. “The Godfather,” as if there were any other reasonable response. When you pig out, what do you eat? Pizza. Followed by ice cream. If you could have dinner with a historical figure no longer living, who would it be? Abraham Lincoln. Or Moses. For different reasons, obviously.
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