Meet Rooney meet-and-greet fundraiser host Jason Maughan

One of the hosts for tonight’s meet-and-greet for U.S. House of Representatives candidate Francis Rooney is Sanibel lawyer Jason Maughan. He’s my attorney too, so let me tell you about Jason.

First and foremost, he is a devoted husband and involved father. He is a lifelong conservative, and he’s one of Southwest Florida’s best lawyers and civic activists. Specializing in real estate, corporate law, construction and commercial litigation, Jason has been voted “Best Attorney and Law Firm of Sanibel and Captiva Islands” in 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014. Among his other accolades and awards are Super Lawyer 2015-2016;  Florida Businessman of the Year, National Republican Congressional Committee, 2006 & 2007; Honorary Chairman Business Advisory Counsel, National Republican Congressional Committee, 2006; and Congressional Medal of Distinction, 2007.

Crediting his success to the many opportunities provided by the local community, Jason expresses his appreciation by serving as director and general counsel on the boards of numerous area charitable and philanthropic organizations, including Community Housing Resource (providing below market housing), Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW) and Med Vets Charitable Foundation (providing free prescription medicine to Veterans’ service dogs).

Jason also serves on the Sanibel School Fund (raising funds to hire additional public language teachers and technology), School Advisory Council (SAC) and Children’s Education Center. In spite of only having two attorneys, Jason’s firm donates more than $100,000 a year in pro bono services to people and groups who cannot afford, but need, quality legal representation.

“I follow the rule that we pay back by giving, not taking,” Jason demurs.

Jason has also earned two consecutive appointments to the City of Sanibel Planning Commission, where he has earned a reputation for protecting citizens’ rights, and is currently the Chair of the Land Development Code Review Subcommittee. He coaches three sports at the public school and supports numerous community civic functions. He is especially proud that he and his family have twice won the Fourth of July parade for most patriotic float and best salute to the military.

When you hear Jason speak, you will detect a light brogue. That’s because his family emigrated from Ireland to Lee County in 1986 (after many visits and annual vacations dating back to 1976). Jason attended Bishop Verot High School, graduating in 1989, and went on to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from Stetson University, where he was elected Senator for Off- Campus students and Chief Justice of the University Judicial Counsel.

 

His proudest moment during this time came in 1991, when Jason became a United States citizen.

After graduation, Jason attended Gonzaga University School of Law, from which he received his Doctorate in Law (JD) in 1996 – thanks in no small measure to hard work, determination, innate intelligence and a boatload of student loans. Gonzaga is also where Jason met the love of his life, Babs.


The two met in law school and Jason fell so hard for her (when you meet her, you’ll understand why) that he asked her to marry him only two weeks later.

Before settling on Sanibel, Jason and his bride traveled to Ireland, where Jason earned a Master’s Degree (LLM) in European Union Law, as well as diplomas in Comparative Constitutional Law. Although that degree qualified him to practice law in 36 countries, he and Babs decided that Sanibel is where they belonged.

They’ve been here for 20 years now, and together they have one son, Ronan Patrick, who is everything to them.

Not only is Jason hard-working, intelligent, patriotic and decisive, he is resolutely enterprising and resilient. While working for other firms in state and federal court matters, he saved enough money to open his own firm in 2004. The timing could not have been worse as Hurricane Charley dramatically closed his office on Friday the 13th in August of that year.

But like so many of his fellow Sanibel residents, business and property owners, he made repairs and re-opened, and has gone on o build a distinguished career representing a wide range of local and international clients from this District.

In his free time, you will find Jason joined by Babs and Ronan paddle-boarding, camping and boating , and he hunts with his son every available season. “I also have a great passion for the history of Sanibel, especially its role during World War II.”

He also looked up to his father, Kevin Patrick (who has passed), and his mother, Judith, who he also considers as heroes (along with John Wayne). “I have tried to be a worthy son. I find it gives me a positive direction in life and gets me away from the current ‘find yourself’ and ‘it’s all about me’ attitude, which is becoming painfully pervasive. To me, doing it for myself never meant as much as doing it for my family.” And it was to protect Babs, Ronan and everyone on Sanibel and throughout Southwest Florida from the ill effects of bad water caused by recurring freshwater releases from Lake Okeechobee that Jason put both his personal and professional lives on hold to run for Florida State Senate, District 27.

Jason's a great guy, and you'll have the chance to meet and talk with him this evening at the meet-and-greet fundraiser I'm throwing at Lovegrove Gallery & Gardens between 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. I hope you'll come. See you in a few hours.