Van Poole
Chairman

With a broad background in state, national, and international politics, Van is a formidable advocate for the interests of our clients before the executive and legislative branches of government. The remarkable growth of PooleMcKinley is testimony to his effectiveness and stewardship.

In 1989, President Reagan appointed Van to the National Advisory Council on Educational Research. Van’s tenure as chairman of the Republican Party of Florida from 1989 to 1993 reflects a substantial list of accomplishments. Those years saw GOP registrations soar and record numbers of Republicans elected. It was as chairman that Van mapped the strategy for achieving Republican majorities in both chambers of the Florida Legislature and electing a GOP governor.

In President Bush’s administration, Van served as Executive Chairman of the International Political Leaders Program for the 1992 Republican National Convention. As an official observer with the International Republican Institute, he has participated in the supervision of elections in Panama, El Salvador, and Bulgaria. Van has instructed local party leaders and candidates in grassroots representation and small business development in Romania, Kazakhstan, and Russia. Most recently, Van participated in the International Program at the 2012 Republican National Convention, working with ambassadors from around the world. Van also sits on the Florida TaxWatch Board of Directors.

His hands-on, detailed knowledge of the state legislative process comes from eight years as a Florida House Member and four years as a Florida Senator, including positions as House Minority Whip and Senate Minority Leader Pro Tempore. The Republican nominee for the United States Senate in 1982, Van understands the importance of local concerns in national debates. 

Van also has significant private sector experience. After ten years in marketing management with Exxon (Humble Oil), Van worked for twenty years as an insurance executive in the firm of Krieg, Kostas, and Poole.