In 1981, after more than eighteen years in public accounting, Bud was appointed by then-Governor Bob Graham to the position of Secretary of the Department of Professional Regulation, the state agency regulating C.P.A.'s, doctors, homebuilders, and other professions. Bud returned to public accounting from December, 1982 until November, 1985, when Governor Graham asked him to return to Tallahassee. In January, 1986, Bud was appointed the Governor's Chief of Staff, and in 1987 accompanied the new U. S. Senator to Washington where he served as the Senator's Chief of Staff. Bud is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants.