LOBBYIST PROFILES

Joe Anne Hart - Director, Governmental Affairs

Joe Anne Hart joined the FDA in January 2005. She attended Florida State University where she received her bachelor of arts degree in English.

Prior to joining the FDA, Joe Anne worked over 8 years with the Florida Association of Counties (FAC) as the lead lobbyist on all county health and human services issues. While at FAC, Joe Anne served on or assisted county commissioners on several committees and workgroups including the Florida Kidcare Coordinating Council, the Florida Healthy Kids Board of Directors, the Florida Health Insurance Study Advisory Council, the Supportive Housing Workgroup, the Office on Homelessness, the Office on Long-Term Care Policy, the Florida Substance Abuse and Mental Health Corporation, the Florida Association of Counties Social Services Executives (FACSSE), the Florida Association of Counties Emergency Medical Services (FACEMS), the Florida Association of Counties Health Officers (FACHO), and the State Medicaid County Billing Workgroup.

Additionally, Joe Anne has lobbied county legislative issues at the national level and served on the National Association of Counties (NACo) Medicaid Task Force, which was extremely instrumental in getting the temporary increase of the federal medical assistance percentage (FMAP) for Medicaid programs.

Ron Watson - Lobbyist

Ron Watson joined the FDA in 2003. He is a Florida State University graduate with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science. He has more than 12 years of experience with grass-roots activism, campaigning and lobbying for health-related issues. He is a former legislative analyst for the Florida Medical Association and a former director of governmental relations for the Florida Osteopathic Medical Association.

Ron worked in legislative affairs at the Department of Professional Regulation, which regulated 47 professions, including the Board of Dentistry. He was a deputy campaign manager and travel aide for Senator George Stuart's campaign for State Treasurer /Insurance Commissioner.

Mary Edenfield - Lobbyist

Mary Edenfield joined the FDA in 2001. She is a graduate of Florida State University, where she received a bachelor’s degree in Public Relations.

Throughout her years at the FDA, Mary has had the opportunity to work in several different capacities within the FDA Governmental Affairs Office. She has experience in legislative grassroots activism; recruiting and promoting the FDA’s political action committee, FLADPAC; and lobbying the legislative and executive branches of government on behalf of organized dentistry.

Mary monitors the Florida Healthy Kids program, KidCare, and the Florida Medicaid program, as well as many other public health dentistry programs throughout the state.

FDA Governmental Affairs Office
118 E. Jefferson St.
Tallahassee, FL 32301
Tel: 800-877-9922, 850-224-1089
Fax: 850-224-7058
E-mail: gao@floridadental.org