When Charlie Crist became Florida’s attorney general five years ago, he named George LeMieux deputy attorney general. When Crist ran for governor, LeMieux was his campaign manager. After Crist was elected in 2006, LeMieux became the governor’s chief of staff. Early this year, citing a need to spend more time with his family, the 38-year-old LeMieux left the governor’s office and returned to Gunster, Yoakley & Stewart.

» “I never thought that I’d be moving to Tallahassee in 2003 to be the deputy attorney general, and I certainly didn’t think I would stay in Tallahassee for as long as I have. ” — George LeMieux

Before leaving Tallahassee, LeMieux gained a national reputation as Crist’s “maestro.” It was LeMieux, for example, who urged Crist not to join President Bush at a campaign stop in Pensacola the day before the 2006 election. At the event, Karl Rove, Bush’s deputy chief of staff, was asked about Crist’s whereabouts. Obviously miffed, Rove said: “Ask George LeMieux.”

Florida Trend: Who started calling you ‘Maestro’?

George LeMieux: The governor did. When he won the general election, he was very gracious to me in his acceptance speech. He said some campaigns have an architect, but our campaign had a maestro.

FT: Was your one year as chief of staff enough?

GL: This governor had an ambitious agenda for his first year, and we worked on that together. I think this governor had the most successful year that a first-year governor could have. I got to be with him and help shepherd along his priorities. Although it was only 12 months in time, I think we got more than 12 months worth of work done.

FT: There must have been a lot of pressure on you.

GL: It’s a big job. There’s no denying that. The good news about that job is every day you go in and help the people and you go home at night knowing you did good work for folks.

FT: Did anything surprise you during the last year?

GL: The speed and pace of the governor’s office is something you really can’t imagine until you’re in the governor’s office. I had worked for three years in the attorney general’s office, which is only 100 steps from the governor’s office, but those 100 steps, there’s a big difference.

FT: Do you miss being chief of staff?

GL: I’m fortunate that I still get to talk to the governor every day, and I’m still trying to help him in any way I can. So I look forward to continuing to help this governor and his staff in any way that I can, in giving them good advice as they continue to succeed. I still have a chance to be involved as a volunteer.

FT: When you talk to the governor now, what do you talk about?

GL: We mostly talk about things he is facing. He asks for my advice, thankfully. We’re friends, too, so sometimes we talk about football games or our lives.

FT: Is there a different mindset working for government compared to working for a law firm?

GL: When you’re the governor’s chief of staff, everything is your responsibility at some point. The challenge in that kind of position is it’s hard to sit and think long about a problem — or to do any in-depth reflection. There’s always a fire. Every five minutes, you have to switch gears and attack something else. The thing that’s nice, once I get settled in private practice, is I’ll get more of an opportunity for reflection.

FT: Did you offer any advice to Gov. Crist as you were leaving?

GL: He has a great phrase that he says to me and I say to him: Stay focused, stay humble and get your rest. Those are words that we have to remind ourselves, especially the rest part.