George S. LeMieux

Chairman, Gunster, Fort Lauderdale

LeMieux was appointed to be a U.S. senator from Florida from 2009 to 2011. He started in Gunster’s firm leadership in 2008. Gunster is a full-service commercial and private wealth law firm with 12 offices across Florida. It has 300 attorneys and more than 550 total employees.

EDUCATION: Emory University (BA), Georgetown University (JD)

IF I WERE GOVERNOR: My first priority would be to expand and fund pre-kindergarten programs for all Florida 4-year-olds and ensure those programs were high quality and robust. The earlier students become proficient in reading, the better chance they have to succeed.

MENTOR: My father was my greatest mentor. He was not formally educated, but he had great wisdom. He taught me to approach people with honesty and integrity. Like the humorist Will Rogers, ‘he never met a man he didn’t like.’ He supported me in my pursuits even though they were very different than his own.

READING: Foreign Affairs is a great publication that covers international affairs from a decidedly non-American view. It is worth a read.

MOTIVATIONAL MANTRA: Find purpose. Work hard. Nurture relationships. Give back. Keep fit. Be grateful.

INSPIRING FLORIDIAN
“I am a big fan of Gov. Jeb Bush. He continues in his post-public life to advocate for educational reform. Leaders do not just ‘talk the talk.’ they ‘walk the walk.’ Jeb has been leading on education for more than thirty years, and Florida’s kids are better off because of his efforts.”