FAPA At The Inauguration
by Ron Pace, PA-C, FAPA President

On January 7th, 2003, Governor Jeb Bush was inaugurated for his second term. As President of FAPA I was invited to attend the inauguration by Tom Gallagher who was inaugurated as the state’s first Chief Financial Officer. The invitation was the result of our PAC’s contributions to Mr. Gallagher’s campaign last fall.

I arrived in Tallahassee at about nine o’clock that morning. Yes, that meant getting up at three in the morning and making the four and one half hour drive to the Capitol. But had I arrived ten minutes later it would have been more difficult since they started closing off the streets around the Capitol then. This was by luck more than planning I have to admit. The drive was not too bad but I noticed as the miles added up on the trip odometer, that the temperature outside kept going down. I left Orlando at 41 degrees and arrived in Tallahassee at 31 degrees. And there was a rather brisk wind around the capitol as well so with the wind chill factor it was down in the teens. I am not a cold weather person.

I went to the office of Mixon and Associates and met Pat and Juhan there. Their office is only a short walk from the capitol and convenient to all the legislative offices. We talked about some FAPA issues for a short time before proceeding over to the Capitol. Pat educated me on how they keep track of legislation as it is introduced and as it moves thru the system. It is very comforting to know that they are keeping such a close eye on things for us. It was very reassuring to me.

We slowly made our way to the VIP seating area. Of course there were hundreds of folks there for the inauguration, mostly Republican of course, so I, a Democrat felt a little out of place. I did not have Democrat tattooed on my forehead, no one knew, and I was not about to advertise it either. Juhan and I were seated in the eighth row from the podium, dead center in front of it. The only way to have had better seats would have required us to be family members. We were close enough to see the wrinkles on former President Bush’s face. I was three seats down from Mayor Glenda Hood of Orlando who is to be the next Secretary of State for Florida in a few short weeks. There were Senators and Representatives seated all around us and others like university Presidents. Fortunately we were seated in the sun so that made it more comfortable.

The ceremony was a very nice one and well organized. There were several musical entertainers who performed including gospel singer Michael Smith and the nationally known Tallahassee Boys Choir. There were several short speeches, prayers, and then the swearing in of the elected officials. After the Governor was sworn in there was gun salute rendered by cannons across from the Capitol, and a fly over by F-15 jets from the Florida National Guard. Overall it was a very impressive ceremony. The Governor gave a sincere inaugural address that emphasized the family and its’ importance in our society.

After the ceremony was over we went to lunch at a restaurant across from the Mixon’s office. There were politicians all over the place of course. Then we went to the reception for Mr. Gallagher at the Governor’s Club. During the morning and early afternoon I was introduced to multiple State Senators and Representatives, aides, and people of influence in the Capitol.

I think the one that impressed me the most was Rep. Johnnie Byrd, Speaker of the House. I introduced myself as President of FAPA. He looked for a second and then thanked me for our support in the fall campaign. He remembered that we had not contributed to him but at his request had contributed to several of his friends seeking re-election to the House. That he could remember that in detail was impressive.

Juhan and Pat Mixon seemed to know and be known by everyone. They were always talking to someone and making plans to get together and “talk things over.” As health care providers one of the things we learn and develop is our skill to judge people’s sincerity as we observe and listen to them. I felt that as I observed Juhan and Pat interacting with these various people of influence in the Capitol that they had the respect of these people.

So you may ask, what purpose did this trip serve for FAPA? For me it was a learning experience. I, as your President, learned a great deal about our legislative efforts and how they get done. By my presence and being introduced as the President of FAPA we were putting the FAPA name out there for recognition to the several dozen people I was able to meet that day. So in the future when we contact them, they will remember that someone from FAPA was there, and they will remember that we make financial contributions through our PAC. And when money talks, people listen. I learned that the investment FAPA has made in Mixon and Associates is one of the best ones we have ever made. As a FAPA leader who has been involved intimately in FAPA affairs for a number of years, I know of the dedication and sincerity that Pat and Juhan have given to FAPA over the years that goes well beyond contractual obligations. They do it because they really do care about our Academy and the PA profession in Florida. They are one of our best assets. So the next time you see Pat or Juhan at one of our meetings, make sure you say “Thanks for all you do.” And the next time you get a chance to make a contribution to the PAC, make sure it is a healthy one. It is money well spent to protect the interests of the PA profession in Florida, and it is absolutely necessary to help ensure our survival.