JOHN SOWINSKI

FOUNDING PARTNER & COMMUNICATIONS STRATEGIST, CONSENSUS COMMUNICATIONS, ORLANDO

John Sowinski has something not many folks can claim: a pretty decent track record in politics. He’s considered a premier expert on statewide referendum campaigns in Florida, with nine successful statewide campaigns for ballot initiatives under his belt — an unmatched record among consultants, he says. As a founding partner of public relations firm Consensus Communications, Sowinski was the mastermind behind a 1992 campaign that set eight-year term limits for state legislators. He supported the 1994 commercial fishing “Net Ban” campaign and the 1994 “No Casinos” campaign. His other victories include the 1996 campaign against a proposed tax of Florida sugar, 2000 support of high-speed rail, the 2002 Smoke Free Workplace initiative and the 2006 Youth Tobacco Education initiative. He also served as general consultant to the successful Mel Martinez for Senate campaign in 2004.