Prior to forming Floridian Partners, Brian May spent the last decade working in state and local government and politics at various high level positions.

Brian’s most recent public position was as Chief of Staff to Miami-Dade Mayor Alex Penelas where he was the architect for many of the Mayor’s leading initiatives.  These included a landmark deal to build a new privately financed basketball arena, the Mayor’s strong crime fighting plan known as Safe Streets/Clean Sweep and a 1997/1998 County Budget that held the line on taxes, cut $60 million in expenses, and promoted strong efficiency measures through the formation of the Mayor’s Efficiency and Competition Commission.  Prior to becoming Chief of Staff, May served as Campaign Manager for Penelas’ successful campaign to be the first ever Executive Mayor for Miami-Dade County.  In 1992, May was the key strategist for then Commissioner Penelas’ effort to create the executive mayor position through a countywide referendum.

Before returning to Miami-Dade County in 1996, May served as Deputy Chief of Staff to State Treasurer and Insurance Commissioner Bill Nelson.  Brian served as Nelson’s lead advisor to address Florida’s homeowner insurance crisis and executed a very successful Nelson initiative to restore the private market and depopulate the state run homeowners’ insurance pool.  May also served as Campaign Manager for Nelson’s statewide election to the office in 1994, as well as his re-election campaign in 1998.

Prior to joining Nelson in 1994, May ran the last campaign of South Florida political legend Steve Clark in his successful bid to return as Mayor of the City of Miami in 1993.  Upon Clark’s election, he served as Chief of Staff to Clark for his first year in office.

May maintains his own campaign management business, The Strategic Edge, where he remains as a highly regarded local and statewide consultant.

Brian lives in Coral Gables and has one son, Reilly.  He was born and raised in Carmel, New York, spent his high school years in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and is a graduate of Furman University with degrees in political science and philosophy.  He enjoys fishing and golf and serves as Board Member for Greater Miami Catholic Charities.