Jeb Bush

John Ellis "Jeb" Bush, born February 11, 1953, in Midland, Texas, is a brother of President George Walker Bush and son of former President George Herbert Walker Bush. Bush was elected as Florida's Republican Governor in November 1998 and was re-elected November 2002 (term expires January 2007). Bush is the founder of education reform groups Chiefs for Change and the Foundation for Excellence in Education(FEE) which both have been found organizing with state education officials to promote the business interests of their corporate, for-profit funders.


 * Director, American Action Forum
 * Advisory Board, George W. Bush Institute
 * Founder, Foundation for Excellence in Education
 * Founder, Chiefs for Change

Involvement in education reform with ties to ALEC
Bush is the founder of education reform groups Chiefs for Change and the Foundation for Excellence in Education(FEE) which both have been found organizing with state education officials to promote the business interests of their corporate, for-profit funders. The FEE is also a member of the American Legislative Exchange Council, whose pay-for-play operation consists of a similar agenda to those of Bush founded education reform groups.

Profiting from education reform groups
Bush founded group the Foundation for Excellence in Education's CEO has strongly advocated state officials introduce SendHub, a communication tool of which Bush is invested in, into state schools.

Biographical Data
"After first arriving in Florida, he helped start a real estate development company that today is one of the largest, full-service commercial real estate companies in South Florida. In 1987-88, he served as Florida's Secretary of Commerce and promoted Florida's business climate worldwide."

Bush's "first run at the post in 1994 was unsuccessful .. [He is] married to Mexican-born Columba Garnica, whom he met while studying in Mexico. They have raised their three children -- George P., Noelle and Jeb -- as Catholics who are fluent in both Spanish and English."

Bush was educated at the University of Texas, with a BA Latin American Affairs (1974).

Jeb's Alleged Affair

 * Alia Faraj, "Governor Bush Makes 2 New Agency Appointments," flanews.com, September 5, 2000: "Governor Jeb Bush's most controversial appointee has been replaced... Cynthia Henderson who headed the Department of Business and Professional Regulation was today appointed to run the Department of Management Services. In her new role, Henderson will be responsible for working with state technology leaders and overseeing the state's major technology reforms."
 * Anthony York, "Jeb Bush denies affair rumors. Florida's governor says stories linking him to a Cabinet secretary are 'an outright lie'," Salon, May 14, 2001: "The whispers linking Bush to Cynthia Henderson, secretary of the Department of Management Services, had reached something of a fever pitch thanks to an unsourced item on MediaWhores Online, followed by items in the Tallahassee Democrat and a cryptic reference to Bush's 'family troubles' in a column by conservative writer Robert Novak. Two other Florida dailies weighed in with stories about the rumor over the weekend."
 * Sarah Left, "Jeb Bush,", Guardian/UK, May 15, 2001: "Jeb Bush has given his brother's presidency its first hint of scandal by going public to deny an affair. Read our guide to the best sites on the governor of Florida."
 * "Florida Governor Jeb Bush Denies Fling with former Playboy Bunny," Buzzle.com, May 16, 2001: "Rumors have been flying around lately that link Florida Governor Jeb Bush with former Playboy Bunny and top state employee, Cynthia Henderson. ... The president's younger brother called an impromptu press conference yesterday to dispel rumors that he is having an affair with the head of the state Department of Management Services, Cynthia Henderson. Henderson, a very attractive 40-year-old former Playboy Bunny, also denied the reports when questioned by reporters at a recent bill signing, where both she and Governor Jeb were present. ... Other than the standard ramblings of the liberal press in Florida, there has been no evidence offered to substantiate the claims of infidelity."
 * Al Martin, "The Jeb Bush Affair Story That Won't Go Away," investigate911.com, no date (May 2001): "The Governor did not however specifically address allegations made on the Al Martin Raw Website that he was aware he been videotaped by an FBI surveillance camera at the 2001 Super Bowl held in Tampa. Nor would the Governor address what was raised on Al Martin Raw that in fact Ms. Henderson was seeking money to keep quiet about her affair with the Florida Governor."
 * "Jeb Bush secures sunshine state,", BBC/UK, November 6, 2002. Scroll down to "Family Problems."
 * Peter Wallsten, "Jeb Bush's regime showing cracks," Bradenton Herald, December 10, 2002: "In the past week, Bush also lost two of his most trusted agency chiefs to resignations - Lottery Director David Griffin and Management Services Secretary Cynthia Henderson. ... Aides say Bush tried to keep Henderson, a controversial but loyal lieutenant, by offering her a reconfigured job, an offer she refused."

Jeb Bush's Environmental Record
According to John Hedrick of the Panhandle Citizens Coalition, Bush has been helping the St. Joe Corporation develop the Florida Panhandle coastline in a destructive manner.

Contact details
The Capitol Tallahassee, FL. 32399 Phone: 850/488/7146 Fax: 850-487-0801 URL: http://www.myflorida.com Email: jeb.bush@myflorida.com

Related SourceWatch Resources

 * Bush administration scandals
 * Bush League
 * Barbara Bush (mother)
 * George P. Bush (son)
 * Neil Mallon Bush (brother)
 * Marvin Bush (brother)
 * Prescott Sheldon Bush (grandfather)
 * Project for the New American Century, PNAC
 * Terri Schiavo
 * The Bush-Bush Cabal

Biographical & Professional

 * WhoseFlorida.com: Jeb, Table of Contents 2002-Present.
 * Bushies (& family) Scandals.
 * John Ellis "Jeb" Bush.

Articles & Commentary

 * Alecia Swasy and Robert Trigaux, Jeb Bush followed the family game plan: Earn your fortune, then run for public office. A vast network of deals made it possible, St. Petersburg Times, September 20, 1998.
 * Jeb Bush, Florida Executive Order Number 01-261, September 7, 2001.
 * "Jeb Bush's Domineering Style Chafes Even His Own Camp," The Tampa Tribune, March 16, 2005.
 * Jim Loney, "Florida ends fight against abortion for 13-yr-old," Reuters, May 3, 2005.
 * Brent Kallestad, "Gov. Bush Criticized for Schiavo Probe," Associated Press, July 1, 2005: "The poll also showed that 70 percent of respondents, including a majority of Republicans with an opinion, say Bush shouldn't run for president in 2008."
 * Mary Ellen Klas and Beth Reinhard, "Defeats signal twilight of Jeb Bush era. The governor's numerous defeats last week heralded the transition by Florida Republicans to the 'post-Jeb' era," Miami Herald, May 7, 2006.
 * "New Orleans Pump Contract Investigated. Army Corps Copied Pump Maker's Specs In Bid, Gave $32M Contract To Politically Linked Company," Associated Press (CBS News), May 1, 2007. re Hurricane Katrina: Profiteering
 * In the Public Interest, Jeb Bushes Education Nonprofit and Corporate Profits, January 30, 2013.