Outskirts Press, INC.

Mike Tolbert is an accomplished story teller and successful corporate and political strategist. He came to Jacksonville in 1969 as a 25-year old political reporter and quickly got involved in campaign politics. In 1970 he was press aide to a former Florida governor in an unsuccessful campaign for the U.S. Senate, then reeled off wins as manager/chief strategist for a series of campaigns for Florida governor, Florida Cabinet, Florida Legislature, Congress, City Council and four Jacksonville mayors. In 1979 Mike created “Colt Fever,” the first shot fired in Godbold’s campaign to land an NFL team, and in 1980 he created the Jacksonville Jazz Festival which attracted over 70,000 celebrants and continues as an annual signature event in Jacksonville. He and his wife Annette live on a horse farm in Brooksville, Florida. m1tolbert@aol.com