Ken Tinkler is currently a shareholder at Carlton Fields out of their Tampa office. His practice focuses on government law, specifically on resolving disputes with and among government agencies involving land use regulation, environmental permitting, ethics regulation, and election law. His election law experience includes representing state and local government officials handling election procedures and Federal Voting Rights Act requirements, and advising clients on campaign finance reporting and qualifying for election. He has served on the Board of Directors for Alpha Phi Omega, a national co-ed community service fraternity, since 2016.
Q: What does being an ABF Fellow mean to you?
I was honored to be nominated to join the ABF by one of my Carlton Fields colleagues as the ABF goals of expanding knowledge and advancing justice are so very important to me personally and key to our role as not just lawyers, but as professionals who are engaged and participating citizens. Never-ending curiosity is so important to a happy life and through the ABF we can have conversations necessary to the improvement of our society.
Q: Where do you consider your hometown and what is your favorite thing about it?
For me, my original hometown is The Bronx, NY as I was born there and I’m a lifetime Yankees fan as a result. I’ve now lived in Tampa, Florida for almost three decades and it is my home – I love its ability to not take itself too seriously and yet offer all the amenities (and wonderful weather) one could desire.
Q: Why did you decide to pursue a career in law?
Internships. Most notably, my undergrad Boston University offered a study-abroad in Washington, DC where I interned full time with the DC Government legal office and took classes at night. That’s where I was first exposed to what became my career practice area of City, County and Local Government Law and all these years later, I’m still enjoying myself and find it very meaningful.
Q: If you hadn’t pursued a career in law, what would you have done?
My original goal was aerospace engineer and Astronaut, but I found I was better arguing with my physics professor than actually doing physics, so I’m glad I ended up where I did. Living in Florida, I get to see rockets fly quite often.
Q: What do you do in your free time?
My family is the center of my world and we love to take advantage of all Tampa and Florida offer to us. You’ll often find us at a ballgame or at one of our favorite theme parks. I’m an active volunteer with a local middle school, Tampa’s Westshore Alliance, and nationally with Alpha Phi Omega and the ABA’s RPTE Section. I’m also a member of a local makerspace, as I’ve always enjoyed electronical gizmos and turning our house into a “smart home.”
Q: Who is your professional hero?
My parents – my Dad spent his whole career with Deloitte and was its first Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer, appointed during a turbulent time in the financial world where he focused on practical and ethical solutions to complex problems, while my Mom was a schoolteacher with her Masters in Education who is a life-long educator & learner – both inspired and crafted how I see the world and my desire to always keep learning.
Q: Anything else you’d like to share with us?
My state co-chair Jo Ann Engelhardt and I recently hosted a local ABF event in Tampa that brought together very interesting and informative experts on the topic of disaster response – a very important local issue with national implications. I’d encourage all state chairs to look at that type of programing as we have so much to learn from each other.