Garrett R. Blanton

Garrett R. Blanton is a public policy advisor* in the firm's Public Policy and Regulation Practice Group. A native resident of Tallahassee, Mr. Blanton has strong ties to the community and to state government. He has held policy-level positions with two state agencies during periods of significant change in their missions, operations, and structures. Mr. Blanton has vast knowledge of the public sector, evolving state agency operations, and the protocols of communicating with the executive and legislative branches.

Immediately prior to joining Holland & Knight, Mr. Blanton worked for the Florida Chamber of Commerce as a member of their legislative team. As such, he helped lead Florida's business community's legislative agenda through a successful 2005 session. Before joining the Florida Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Blanton was President of Blanton Consulting, a firm focused on representing public and private sector clients in governmental and legislative affairs.

In 2000, Mr. Blanton became Chief of Staff of the Florida Department of Management Services ("DMS"). Within DMS, he was directly responsible for overseeing the Divisions of Building Construction, Facilities, Purchasing, Retirement, and State Group Insurance.

From 1995 through early 1999, Mr. Blanton worked with the Florida Department of State. He became Chief of Staff of the Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation, and served as a top policy advisor to the head of the agency. As such, he developed close working relationships with the Executive Office of the Governor, the Cabinet, legislative leaders and their staffs, and top personnel in other governmental agencies. He directly supervised the Divisions of Legislative Affairs, Communications, Technology, Hotels & Restaurants, and Alcoholic Beverages & Tobacco.

Mr. Blanton's professional activities include appointments by the Commissioner of Education to serve on the Florida Education Commissioner's Advisory Council and on the Florida Education Commissioner's Council on Physical Fitness.

Mr. Blanton holds a B. S. in Social Science with an emphasis in Public Administration and Economics from Florida State University. He played on the FSU Varsity Baseball Team from 1988 to 1991. As a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Mr. Blanton was active in the community as a speaker and role model for students in Leon County’s schools. He took a hiatus from academics to play professional baseball with the St. Louis Cardinals from 1991 to 1994, before returning to complete his degree in 1995.