PRESIDENT’ S MESSAGE
PRESIDENT’ S MESSAGE
Honoring Public Service: Spotlight on Unsung Legal Heroes
Leading with Purpose: A Conversation with Maricruz Fincher
Maricruz Fincher, Esq. General Counsel, South Florida Water Management District
The following is part of a continuing series by Jean Marie Middleton.
In the heart of Florida’ s environmental and water policy efforts stands a public servant whose legal expertise, passion for environmental stewardship, and deep commitment to public service has shaped a career defined by impact. As the General Counsel for the South Florida Water Management District( SFWMD), Maricruz Fincher leads a 26-member legal team serving one of the state’ s most vital agencies.
With a career that has been rooted in public service from the beginning, her story reflects a journey that has combined litigation, regulatory expertise, and a growing passion for environmental law.“ I’ ve always worked in public service. I’ m so proud of that,” she shared.“ It’ s what drives me— what we do here impacts people today and generations to come.”
From Civil Litigation to Environmental Advocacy
A graduate of Florida International University with a degree in accounting, she originally envisioned a career in tax law. That vision shifted after graduating from Florida State Law in 2008 and landing her first position with the Florida Attorney General’ s Office in Tallahassee, where she honed her skills in civil litigation.“ It was a lot of on-the-job learning,” she said.“ I loved the courtroom experience and the constant challenge.”
She later transitioned to the Florida Department of Revenue, where she worked for several years. But it wasn’ t until her move to the South Florida Water Management District in 2016 that she found a unique blend of her legal expertise and her growing personal interest in environmental issues. Initially focused on litigation, she gradually expanded her role to include contract work and administrative cases before the Division of Administrative Hearings( DOAH).
A Return with Purpose
Her trajectory was temporarily interrupted when her husband’ s job took their family to Franklin, Tennessee, just outside Nashville. There, she served as an attorney for the City of Franklin, gaining valuable experience in municipal law and deepening her understanding of local government operations.
When the opportunity arose to return to Florida, she was excited.“ I never wanted to leave the District,” she said. In 2022, she rejoined SFWMD as a Senior Attorney. Just six months later, she was appointed General Counsel.
Leading Legal Strategy for One of Florida’ s Largest Agencies
Today, she oversees a legal department comprised of five administrative staff, five paralegals, and a diverse team of attorneys. Her office provides support across nearly every legal discipline— real estate, litigation, procurement, labor and employment, public records, ethics, and environmental compliance.
SFWMD is no ordinary agency. It manages flood control and water supply for 16 counties, from Orlando to the Keys.—. Its mission also includes the restoration and protection of the Everglades, one of the most important ecological systems in the world.
“ Our clients are the boots on the ground,” she explained.“ We work alongside them, the scientists, engineers, construction managers, biologists, and data scientists. Everyone here is passionate about the mission— and that passion is contagious.”
From hurricane season operations, where parts of the headquarters serve as an Emergency Operations Center( EOC), to ensuring compliance with federal Everglades restoration mandates, the scope of the legal department’ s work is vast and complex.
“ What I love most is that no day is the same. You must be a generalist. You’ re always learning, and that’ s what keeps me going.”
A Life Rooted in Values
Outside of work, she’ s been married for 15 years and is the proud mother of two children. A former half-marathon runner, she enjoys crafting, playing the piano, and has set an ambitious personal goal: visiting every U. S. National Park. So far, her favorite has been Acadia National Park in Maine, with Zion National Park at the top of her bucket list.
Her story is one of dedication— to her family, her profession, and to a mission that transcends law: protecting Florida’ s most precious natural resources for generations to come.
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