by Mike Sharkey
Staff Writer
“They ran out of names on the bathroom wall.”
That’s how Blue Cross Blue Shield lobbyist Mike Hightower jokingly responded when asked if he was, indeed, named the “2007 Lobbyist of the Year.”
Hightower did win the “Golden Pigeon” award as the overall top lobbyist in the state and was honored during an April 12 dinner with his peers at the Governor’s Mansion in Tallahassee. The award is voted on by secret ballot.
“I was dumbfounded,” said Hightower, who is rarely at a loss for words. “This is the first time I won and I didn’t know what to say.”
Hightower said there are a little over 2,000 lobbyists in the state and every year they gather for a lobbyist-only dinner that also serves as a fundraiser for various charities. Leading up to the dinner, the lobbyists vote on several annual awards including the male and female lobbyist of the year and several others, including the Golden Pigeon award. Two years ago, Hightower was named the male lobbyist of the year, but this year’s honor caught him off-guard.
“It’s really nice to acknowledged by my colleagues,” said Hightower. “It’s a neat thing.”
Hightower has been working in Tallahassee on behalf of Blue Cross Blue Shield for 26 years. He said the award is as much a reflection of his employer as anything.
“These are the guys and gals I deal with day-in and day-out,” he said. “It’s a nice honor. I am very appreciative and very humbled. It’s cool that it came from my colleagues.”
In addition to being a lobbyist in Tallahassee, Hightower is very involved in the local, state and national Republican Party. He is the current chair of the local Republican Party and was instrumental in getting Mayor John Peyton elected in 2003 and re-elected in February. He also worked on the fundraising side of former Gov. Jeb Bush’s campaign as well as current Gov. Charlie Crist’s campaign.