David came from a family devoted to community service but averse to politics, so his choice of a career may seem surprising. He got an early start, registering students to “vote” in 6th grade, played the role of George H.W. Bush in high school debates, and befriended Florida Attorney General Jim Smith. These experiences led to volunteer roles in Smith’s first race for governor and Bush’s 1988 presidential campaign. When he learned of the Political Campaigning Program, David said, it was a no-brainer for him to apply.
After completing his M.A., David became Political Director for Congressman Mike Bilirakis’ re-election campaign, then managed Bilirakis’ next race followed by Smith’s gubernatorial bid in 1994. He then made his way into government service, working as Florida’s Director of Elections, Deputy Secretary of State, and Deputy Chief of Staff for Governor Jeb Bush. David co-founded the lobbying firm Southern Strategy Group in 2000, helping to grow it into the nation’s largest state-based lobbying firm. Along the way, he continued to pursue his passion for political campaigns in various capacities.
As is typical, David’s political career has seen some changes and taken a few surprising turns. He never thought he’d be a lobbyist, but having two children to take care of and having his passion rewarded far more in the private sector led him to leave state government. While he still does political consulting, he’s no longer engaged in daily management and works from his own office. David credits the Political Campaigning Program for con-tributing to his personal and intellectual growth. “My degree was more than just checking a box — it forced me to learn how others think and to appreciate differences between people and ideas as much as their similarities.”