Clint Austin

Clint began his political involvement in Georgia in 1994, working for the Speaker of the Georgia House, then working for the Republican Leadership in the Georgia House of Representatives for three years.  He served in a number of roles eventually including Executive Director of the House Republican Trust.  

After working with the House Republican Trust, Clint began his career in political consulting, starting his own public affairs practice in 1999.

Clint has served as consultant to dozens of Republican leaders in Georgia at all levels, from statewide to local.  He has compiled an outstanding winning record, including first-ever Republican victories in areas around the state and a client list that has included leaders that now direct the Georgia General Assembly.

In addition to traditional campaign consulting, Clint also focused his practice on public policy research for leading Republican legislators and opinion makers.  Clint’s efforts led to legislative and constitutional initiatives that won statewide approval even during Georgia’s period of Democrat control.

In 2003, Clint took on the role of Director of Government Relations for a start-up lobbying operation.  Under Clint’s direction, in only two years his firm attained a top-five ranking among all lobbying firms in Georgia by James magazine (including a number two state ranking on “knowledgeability”).

Effective January 2005, Clint has brought his lobbying practice in-house with his existing public relations company, JCA Public Affairs, LLC and just recently expanded his firm into the newly-named ConnectSouth Public Affairs.  The renamed firm has already been named a Top Ten government affairs firm in Georgia and provides consulting and public affairs intelligence to Fortune 500 clients across all range of issues.

A native of Georgia, Clint Austin attended the University of Georgia where he was Phi Beta Kappa and earned his degree in philosophy and political science.  He serves in the U.S. Navy Reserve and lives in Marietta with his wife Laura.  They have one son and expect another child soon.


Tony Simon

Tony Simon most recently served as a special assistant to House Speaker Glenn Richardson and as a political advisor to the House Majority Caucus. In that capacity, he helped guide House leadership’s most targeted races to victory in 2006 working in collaboration with Austin. Simon also played a key role in the shaping and passage of key legislation during the 2005-06 legislative session during his tenure in the Speakers office.

Prior to that, Simon served the Senate for three years. Hired in September 2000 by then-Minority Leader Eric Johnson, Simon was responsible for field efforts in the northern portion of the state. The historic election of 2002 left Republicans in charge of the Senate. Simon was asked to remain on staff as Political Director of the new Majority Caucus and given the task of increasing that majority. That goal was accomplished when Senate Republicans increased their numbers to 35 members in the 2004 elections.

Tony lives in Sandy Springs with is wife Jessica and their two daughters.


Sam Choate, J.D.

Sam comes to the ConnectSouth team having served most recently as General Counsel to the Speaker of the Georgia House of Representatives from 2005 to 2007.  Prior to becoming General Counsel to the Speaker, he served as Counsel to the Republican Caucus in the House from 2002 to 2004.  During this time, he also maintained a national business and litigation practice in Brunswick, Georgia representing business clients in state and federal courts and in arbitration proceedings.

In addition to having practiced law for over 34 years, Sam also brings extensive experience in corporate government relations and lobbying to the firm, having served for three years as Senior Vice President and General Counsel for a national chain where he organized an eight person legal and governmental affairs department responsible for managing legislative affairs in twenty states and in Washington, DC.

During his career Sam has also represented various trade groups and companies before the National Governors Association, the American Legislative Exchange Council, the National Council of State Legislators, the Council of State Governments, the Republican Attorneys General Association, the National Taxpayers Union and other third parties involved in state and federal legislation.

Sam was honored in 2000 by the American Legislative Exchange Council as one of its Private Sector Members of the Year.

Sam's law practice has also included general corporate and business, franchise, and litigation work for many foreign clients, including having served from 1991 to 1998 as counsel to the Russian law firm of Egorov, Puginsky, Afanasiev & Associates with offices in St. Petersburg and Moscow.  From 1994 to 1998 Sam also served as American counsel to the European-American Tax Institute based in London and Paris.

Sam is currently Of Counsel to the Atlanta law firm of Drew, Eckl & Farnham in its Brunswick office.  Sam and his wife M.J. live on St. Simons Island, Georgia and have two grown children.


Michael R. Mitchell

Michael R. Mitchell is a Southeast Regional Public Affairs consultant based in the Metro Atlanta area.

Recently, Mike worked as Director of State Government Relations, SE for UST Public Affairs based in Atlanta, Georgia.  In that capacity, he was responsible for managing day-to-day legislative strategy, messaging, and political contributions throughout an eight state region (NC, SC, GA, FL, AL, MS, TN, KY).  Mike effectively worked with his over 30 lobbyists to develop and implement multi-state strategic plans to both advance major corporate initiatives and defeat legislation detrimental to the company.  Additionally, he coordinated expansive grassroots outreach efforts involving customers, various trade associations, pro-business think tanks, and key business leaders.

Mike has a well-rounded portfolio of professional experience that includes working on Capitol Hill for United States Senator Paul D. Coverdell (R-GA), working for two large grassroots agencies in Washington, DC, starting his own successful public affairs business, and lobbying for a major corporation.
  
Currently, Mike resides in Peachtree City, Georgia with his wife, Jill, and their three children.