To Tallahassee and Back: Christine Hunter Retires

This week’s blog post is a particularly difficult one for me to write.  Back in November of 1994 Mike Fasano was elected for the first time to the Florida House of Representatives.   His victory party was at the now defunct Irish Cottage, a lovely little place that specialized in, you guessed it, Irish fare.   At the party my wife Nancy and I sat with another couple, Al & Christine Hunter, whom we had never met before that evening.  We had a wonderful time getting to know these two fine people and by the end of the party I felt that we were already friends.  My daughter Rebekah, then about 18 months old, felt so comfortable with Al and Chris that she fell asleep on the table between us!

Representative-Elect Fasano, who had already asked me to join his staff if he got elected, and I went into overdrive the next day, doing all the things that have to be done when opening a legislative office.  One of our priorities was hiring a secretary.   Christine, who had a typing business that she ran out of her home, was referred to us by a mutual friend, Ed Collins.  As I did with all the applicants who were seeking the job I not only interviewed her I gave her a typing test (on an electric typewriter no less – I guess that kind of dates me, doesn’t it?).  Needless to say Christine, a true professional, passed the test with flying colors.  She stood out among all the applicants and soon was on board as the third member of our legislative team.

Over the years we have had other people join the staff, and then move on to other things.  I am happy that almost everyone stays in touch.  One common element is that all sing Chris’ praises for the influence she has had on their lives.  She is the kind of person you can open up to and feel totally secure that whatever you talk about will not leave the room.  Anyone who has worked with her in any capacity will not soon forget her kind ways and gentle demeanor.  Now, and this is why this post is so hard to write, Chris’ time to move on with her own life has come.

On June 3, after 19 years of service to the people of Florida, Chris’ tenure with the Florida Legislature ends in a well-deserved retirement.  Chris is retiring so that she and her husband can do all the things they could not do when beckoned daily by a desk and a computer!  To say that Chris will be missed is an understatement.  Christine has become synonymous with this office, in particular its constituent service program.  More importantly, she is a truly kind human being who has a strong sense of her faith and infectious warmth that touches all.

Working for the legislature is very much like being part of a family.  One truly never leaves it.  Once you are in the process for any extended period of time it becomes part of who you are.  Thus, even though Chris is moving on to bigger and better things, she is not going far.  She has promised she will only be a cell phone call away.  I sure hope she has my number on her unlimited minutes plan!

If you would like to leave a note about Chris, or just wish her well in her retirement, please feel free to leave a comment below.  If there is anything good about social media it is that with Facebook, Twitter and e-mail you are never really out of reach.  Chris and Al, I wish you many happy retirement years together.  You deserve every moment!