Former Speaker of the House

Senior Counsel, PayPal Corporation

Former Congressman and U.S. Attorney

Director, Heritage Foundation

January 22, 2010
Washington Examiner: Prosecutors have too much power

October 28, 2009
Don't Be Fooled! A Proven U.S. Test Case on Obamacare

June 2, 2009
Case Filed Against the State of Texas

May 7, 2009
SMITH & WARNER: The Wrong Time For GOP Donors to Close Their Wallets

April 7, 2009
Attorney for Everglades Legal Foundation Cites Need for AG Oversight...

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Heyward Smith - Executive Director

Heyward Smith brings a wide range of public policy knowledge and experience to ELF. Mr. Smith has served as an aide to former U.S. Senator Paul Coverdell of Georgia, as well as Congressmen Mac Collins and Bob Barr -- working on market solutions to issues ranging from energy and global trade to education and the environment. Mr. Smith has also served as an advisor to the Gotham Legal Foundation in Manhattan, helping develop its issue set and offering prudent, timely counsel on a host of institutional matters.

Mr. Smith has been a Financial Advisor for over ten years working with a large Wall Street firm and two regional banks. On two occasions, he was recognized with the Chairman's Club designation as one of the top advisors in sales of his firm, and most recently received the Emerald Club honor for his outstanding sales performance. His sustaining interest in public policy and concern about the direction of government inspired his involvement in helping found Everglades Legal. He resides in Jacksonville with his wife and two children.

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Monty Warner - Director

Monty Warner is a Principal of MSW Communications Group LLC, a boutique firm focused on issue advocacy, media relations and fundraising strategy. Clients have ranged from Fortune 1000 tech, energy and telecom companies to nonprofits, authors and private firms. A former speechwriter to U.S. Sen. Paul Coverdell and finance director to Congressman Bob Barr, Warner employs extensive national contacts to the client's advantage through solid coalition-building and sound, strategic advocacy.

Warner's media experience has ranged from Oracle's efforts to purchase PeopleSoft to promoting major events with First Lady Laura Bush in furtherance of the White House's "Helping America's Youth" Initiative. Other efforts include significant communications work in the WorldCom debarment matter and in the litigation brought against the makers of Botox by the wife of a Hollywood mogul. Mr. Warner has served as a Director of the Wednesday Morning Club (WMC), a group organized in Beverly Hills to help bring diversity of thought to the entertainment industry; speakers at the WMC included President George W. Bush, George Will, author John Irving, and White House Press Secretary Tony Snow. He also organized two Restoration Weekend events with nationally-recognized political figures and pundits such as Ann Coulter and Vanity Fair's Christopher Hitchens, and has promoted two New York Times Bestselling books ("Charlie Wilson's War" and "The Death of Right and Wrong").

Warner has worked with inner city schools in Los Angeles in his spare time. He is a former Program Administrator for the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy, a co-founder of the Gotham and Everglades Legal Foundations and was named one of the "Rising Stars of Politics" by Campaigns and Elections Magazine. He has appeared in Vanity Fair, USA Today, Forbes, the Los Angeles Times, the Washington Post, Fox News Channel and PBS.

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Derrick B. Gruner - General Counsel

Derrick Gruner is a founding attorney of the law firm of Gruner|Strahl in Jacksonville, Florida, and brings a wealth of political and legal experience to Everglades Legal. A trained litigator and student of public policy, he has coordinated numerous special events hosting Florida Supreme Court Justices, members of the United States and Florida House and Senate, and other State and Federal officials, many of whom also appeared on People and Politics, a local television program Derrick co-hosted and produced.

A member of the Florida Bar, Mr. Gruner began his career in Chicago's mortgage banking business with a primary emphasis on business development and mortgage-backed securities, where he was active in the Illinois Association of Mortgage Brokers. Elected as the youngest Vice President of the Glendale Heights Chamber of Commerce, he also served as Chair of the Industrial and Commercial Development Commission. After relocating to Atlanta, Derrick became active in a variety of prominent trade groups, serving as Chairman of the Georgia Association of Mortgage Brokers PAC and Legislative Committee member of the National Association of Mortgage Brokers.

Derrick is actively involved in the Jacksonville community. A member of the 2005 class of Leadership Jacksonville, he serves on the Board of the Inside/Outside House, Inc., a residency program for juvenile offenders, and has served as a volunteer for the Willie E. Gary Classic. Derrick also serves on a committee organized by several state lawmakers with the aim of advancing predatory lending legislation during the 2006 legislative session. His concern about the unchecked growth and power of government -- and a dearth of tangible forums to help counter these trends --prompted him to help found Everglades Legal Foundation. He resides in Jacksonville.

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