Florida's Lt. Governor Jeff Kottkamp

ORLANDO, FLA. -  The Florida College of Emergency Physicians (FCEP) is proud to host Jeff Kottkamp, Florida’s Lieutenant Governor, on Saturday, Aug. 4 at the 2007 Symposium by the Sea. The appearance is part of this week’s festivities during the state’s largest annual gathering of Emergency Physicians, at the Naples Grande Resort and Club. Lt. Governor Kottkamp will be speaking to the FCEP membership during Saturday morning’s town hall meeting from 9-10 a.m. in the resort’s Royal Palm conference room (I-III).

Kottkamp was elected as Florida’s 17th Lieutenant Governor in November of 2006. He was born Nov. 12, 1960 in Indianapolis and moved to Cape Coral in Southwest Florida in 1977. He graduated from North Fort Myers High School in 1979 and was introduced to the state Capitol while he was in high school when he attended Boys’ State.

The Lieutenant Governor started his college career at Edison College in Southwest Florida, where he served as editor of the Student Government newspaper. He received an Associate of Arts degree in 1982. He then
attended Florida State University, where he was also active in Student Government. In 1984, he received his B.S. degree in Political Science from FSU before attending the University of Florida College of Law and receiving his Juris Doctor degree in 1987.

Before becoming an elected official, Kottkamp served as a law clerk for two U.S. District Court Judges in Miami. He then returned home to Southwest Florida to practice law. Kottkamp first ran for public office in 2000, when he was elected to the Florida House of Representatives. He was subsequently re-elected in 2002 and 2004. While in the legislature, Kottkamp served in numerous leadership positions, including Chairman of the Judiciary Committee (2002-2004), Chairman of the Governmental Operations Committee (2005), Chairman of the Judiciary Appropriations Committee (2006) and Vice-Chairman of the Rules and Calendar Council (2004-2006). He also served Deputy Majority Whip. In addition, Kottkamp served on the American Legislative Exchange Council’s Task Force on Civil Justice.

One of the most important pieces of legislation that Kottkamp sponsored during his service in the legislature was the Marvin Davies Civil Rights Act of 2003. The bill provided the Attorney General’s office with the authority to take action when a “pattern or practice” of discrimination has occurred. He also sponsored numerous pieces of legislation to reduce taxes, including the repeal of the Intangibles Tax, and served as Co-Chair of the Taxpayer Protection Caucus.

During his service as a member of the House of Representatives Kottkamp received many honors and awards, including the “Legislature of the Year Award” from numerous organizations, the “Champion of Business” Award from Associated Industries, the Florida Catholic Conference “Defensor Vitae” Award for his sponsorship of the Parental Notice of Abortion Act in 2005, the “Faith and Family” Award from the Christian Coalition of Florida and the Florida Academy of Trial Lawyers “Outstanding Representative Award”.

Lt. Governor Kottkamp serves as Chairman of the Board of Space Florida and also oversees the Governor’s initiatives involving the film industry and the Office of Drug Control.

The Florida College of Emergency Physicians (FCEP) represents more than 1,100 emergency physicians in the state of Florida. FCEP members represent the health care safety net of Florida’s residents and visitors. More than seven million patients seek care annually in Florida emergency departments. FCEP was founded on Oct. 15, 1971 and is headquartered in Orlando.