Princeton Public Affairs Group, the largest government affairs firm in New Jersey, is a multifaceted organization specializing in government relations and communications in New Jersey. We have offices in Trenton, New Jersey and Washington, D.C. with an unparalleled network of contacts throughout the state. The strength of our firm derives from the diverse backgrounds of the firm's partners and associates which include a former President of the New Jersey Senate, Speaker of the New Jersey General Assembly, Counsel to the Governor, Chief Counsel to the General Assembly and several former Directors of the Legislature.

FIRM SPECIALTY

An accomplished bipartisan staff between our Trenton, New Jersey and Washington, DC offices ensures that our clients are well represented on both sides of the political aisle and at all levels of government. The mix and wealth of experience among our professionals provides for expertise in all areas of public policy.

Whatever the task: working our way through the permitting process, delivering a change in a regulation or orchestrating the introduction and passage of major legislation, we've done it.

Wherever the setting: before a Legislative Committee or in the Office of the Governor, we've been there.

Whomever the players: the Commissioner of a State Department, a key Committee aide, the Legislative leadership or the Chief of Staff, we know them.

And each and every one of our clients is assured the benefit of that expertise. You see, at the Princeton Public Affairs Group, our philosophy dictates that each of our clients works with a firm partner. There are no junior executives. This is one of the qualities which separates us from other firms. It gives our clients the best we have. And it works.

TAG CONTACTS

DAVID A. SMITH is a partner in the Princeton Public Affairs Group, is a veteran of the public affairs arena and has successfully managed public affairs campaigns impacting auto insurance, life insurance, tort reform and environmental legislative initiatives. Mr. Smith received national acclaim when he was honored with a "Pollie Award" by the American Association of Political Consultants and named to their United States "Public Affairs Team of the Year.”  Mr. Smith was also named one of the most influential players in New Jersey's Healthcare arena by the Annual HealthSense Listing.  Since 2005, Mr. Smith has been a Commissioner on the New Jersey Motion Picture and Television Commission (nominated by the Governor for two separate four year terms and confirmed by the NJ Senate) and currently serves as an Officer on the Commission (Secretary).  Mr. Smith serves on the National Board of Directors of the Public Affairs Council, and was one of the few contract lobbyists in the Country to be appointed to a National Task Force charged with creating ethical standard for lobbyists throughout the United States. Mr. Smith is a founder and member of the Board of Directors of ProtectingAmerica.org, an advocacy organization Co-chaired by James Lee Witt, former Cabinet member under President Clinton and Admiral James Loy, Deputy Director of Homeland Security under President Bush.  Mr. Smith also serves as an Officer (1^st Vice President) of the New Jersey Hall of Fame Foundation Board of Directors and also serves on the Executive Committee (Secretary) of The Advocacy Group (TAG).  Finally, Mr. Smith serves on the Board of Directors as an officer (Treasurer) of the State Capitol Insurance Company RRG, the first professional liability company for lobbyists headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Mr. Smith has appeared on television and radio stations representing clients' interests, authored dozens of articles on politics/policy issues in New Jersey and is a frequent guest speaker/lecturer at national and state conferences, legislative hearings, meetings and seminars. He has been a consultant to statewide and legislative political campaigns and is a member of the Executive Finance Committee of the Assembly Democratic Leadership Committee as well as the New Jersey State Democratic Committee.  Prior to joining the firm in 1995, Mr. Smith served as Director of Policy and Planning for the New Jersey General Assembly Democratic Office. In that capacity, Mr. Smith supervised the partisan staff of all Assembly Committees and Task Forces while serving as senior staff aide to the insurance and commerce legislative committees. He was a Director with the New Jersey Dental Association from 1985 to 1990 and served on several national and state health care and insurance advisory committees.

Mr. Smith was awarded a Master of Science in Financial Services (MSFS) Degree from the Richard D. Irwin Graduate School of The American College. He is a Graduate Fellow of the Public Affairs Institute, a three year educational program of the Public Affairs Council located in Washington, DC. Mr. Smith also graduated with a Bachelors of Arts Degree in Political Science from Gettysburg College. 

DALE FLORIO, ESQ, an attorney and founder of the Princeton Public Affairs Group, is a public affairs professional with experience at the federal, state and local levels. He is also President of Winning Strategies Communications, Inc. which oversees the marketing of Winning Strategies Advertising, Winning Strategies Public Relations and Princeton Public Affairs Group. Legislative strategy development, direct lobbying and coalition development are Mr. Florio’s specialties. Immediately prior to co-founding the Princeton Public Affairs Group, Mr. Florio managed the $10 million Philip Morris state and local government affairs program throughout all 50 states. He was responsible for development and implementation of the company’s lobbying strategy, grassroots effort and political contributions program. Before joining Philip Morris, he served as federal public affairs representative with the National Association of Manufacturers and as an administrative assistant to a member of the New Jersey General Assembly.

In 1979, Mr. Florio was elected as a member of the Borough Council in Somerville, New Jersey. He chaired the Finance Committee of the Council, while serving on that committee for nearly three years. In June, 1992 Mr. Florio was elected Chairman of the Somerset County Republican Organization. In the Spring of 1992, he was nominated by State Assembly Speaker Chuck Hayatian and appointed by Governor Florio to the New Jersey Building Authority. Mr. Florio served as a key advisor to Christie Todd Whitman during her successful primary and general election victories in 1993 and 1997 and was subsequently named to the Governor’s Transition Team. Mr. Florio serves on the Boards of Commerce Bank/Central, Opinion Research Corporation, Innovative Educational Programs, Inc., and the Adult Day Center of Somerset County. He was also a member of the Task Force on the Affordability and Accessibility of Health Care in New Jersey.

A graduate of Allegheny College and Seton Hall Law School, Mr. Florio is admitted to the practice of law in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.