Ron DeSantis transition team announces first round of staff hires

Monday saw the transition team of Gov.-elect Ron DeSantis continue to take shape. Many of these names are familiar faces to those who have been around Florida politics.

James Blair, who served since the summer as a senior adviser, will advise on policy. Blair was the mail vendor for the primary and general campaigns and was involved with general strategy and messaging while managing execution of direct voter contact programs.

The Enterprise Florida board member has been a close adviser to fellow conservative and former House Speaker Richard Corcoran and will help with the transition in a major way.

DeSantis’ director of recruitment, Chris Clark, was former Senate President Don Gaetz‘s adviser. And before that, Gov. Jeb Bush‘s. He moved on to the Florida Medical Association, one of the first major professional groups to back the DeSantis candidacy.

Ben Gibson, the former Deputy General Counsel to Gov. Rick Scott and current partner at Shutts & Bowen LLP, will be general counsel of the transition.

In other moves:

— Dave Vasquez, who performed under pressure as the campaign’s press secretary, will stay on to handle communications for DeSantis through the transition.

— Drew Meiner will be director of operations. He had deputy roles with the campaign and DeSantis’ Congressional office.

— Amanda Emmons, who handled scheduling during the campaign, will stay on, in a similar role.

— Claire Whitehead, meanwhile, will be assistant to First Lady Casey Black DeSantis.

These hires come on the heels of transition team chairs being announced last week.

Congressman Matt Gaetz, Speaker Corcoran, former U.S. Sen. George LeMieux, and former Lt. Gov. Toni Jennings are filling those roles.