Chris Kise, Mike Dew joining Ron DeSantis transition team

Tallahassee attorney Chris Kise and former state Transportation Secretary Mike Dew are joining Gov.-elect Ron DeSantis‘ transition team, according to a Friday news release.

“I am very proud of the team we are continuing to build for the transition,” DeSantis said. “With the addition of these two talented individuals, coupled with the dedicated group of professionals that have been working day in and day out, we are building an administration that will lead Florida to new heights.”

Kise, named “Counsellor to the Transition,” is a partner at the Foley & Lardner law firm and co-chair of its appellate practice.

“Kise has successfully argued four cases before the U.S. Supreme Court, filed briefs in more than a dozen cases before the high court, and been involved in dozens of cases before the Florida Supreme Court, as well as in state and federal appellate courts across the country,” the release said.

He also was state Solicitor General, general counsel to Gov. Rick Scott’s 2010 transition and counsellor to former Gov. Charlie Crist.

More recently, Kise has been representing lobbyist Adam Corey, former confidant to Democratic candidate for Governor and ex-Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum. 

Dew, named “Senior Advisor for Agency Policy & Personnel,” recently stepped down as Secretary of the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), where he served since mid-2017.

“Dew will advise the transition on building agency leadership teams for the DeSantis Administration, drawing on his experience as FDOT Secretary and chief of staff, as well as from serving as chief of staff for the Florida Department of Corrections from 2012-14, and director of external affairs for Scott from 2011-12,” the release said.