Peter Schorsch
State Sen. Darryl Rouson has pulled off his own ‘big get’ with the addition of Pinellas County legend Elise Minkoff to his legislative staff.
Minkoff, a huge deal in charitable circles, will officially be “district secretary,” Rouson explained.
But in reality, she’ll be “much more than that,” acting as his liaison to the community, and concentrating on constituent needs and concerns.
“People don’t realize we’ve been friends for 35 years,” said Rouson, a St. Petersburg Democrat elected in 2016 after eight years in the House.
“That’s how long she and her husband have been in my life.” He’s referring to Pinellas-Pasco Circuit Judge Thomas Minkoff.
“She has been doing charitable and philanthropic work for what seems like forever,” Rouson told Florida Politics. “She’s hardworking and ethical. When I spoke with her about (joining the office), she was ready, willing and able to step up to a new level of public service.”
And as a Tampa native, “she knows people on that side of the bridge,” Rouson added. His Senate District 19 crosses the bay to include parts of Pinellas and Hillsborough counties.
“It’s not often we get an opportunity to serve our community in a meaningful way, Minkoff said about the new job. “I have spent a significant portion of my life helping citizens in our counties, state, and nation. In many ways my public and community service mirrors that of Sen. Rouson who has been a family friend for over 30 years.”
She adds: “I am particularly honored to assist Sen. Rouson in bringing the best representation to the citizens of our Greater Tampa Bay Area.”
