Leadership Lecture Series - 1/18/2002
Jeb Bush
Governor Jeb Bush earned a bachelor's degree in Latin American Affairs from the University of Texas at Austin. He came to Florida from Texas in 1980 as a businessman with a small family and big dreams of opportunity. In 1981, he helped start the Codina Group, a Miami-based real estate development company. There Bush served as president and chief operating officer. Equally active in civic and political affairs, he served as Florida's secretary of commerce under Bob Martinez, Florida's 40th governor. As secretary of commerce, he ardently promoted Florida's business climate worldwide. Following an unsuccessful bid in 1994 for governor of Florida, Bush founded a think tank, the Foundation for Florida's Future, helped launch the state's first charter school in Liberty City and authored Profiles in Character, a book profiling 14 of Florida's civic heroes.
Governor Bush was elected the 43rd governor of the state of Florida in November, 1998. During his first three years in office, Governor Bush and his administration have honored their commitments to the people of Florida to improve public schools; provide substantial, broad-based tax relief; fight the battle against illegal drugs; protect the natural environment; get tough on criminals who use guns; and reform social services to better serve children, elders and those with disabilities.
Governor Bush is married to Columba Bush and they have three children: George, Noelle and Jebby.