Former Gov. Neil Abercrombie’s chief of staff Bruce Coppa has landed a lobbying job with Hawaii’s top lobbying firm, Capitol Consultants of Hawaii.

The company is the state’s largest governmental relations and lobbying firm, and regular Civil Beat readers need no introduction to the guys who run the place, John Radcliffe and Red Morris. The two Hawaii lobbyists are big players in state politics and government, including among the biggest contributors to political campaigns and organizations. Radcliffe in particular is a close associate of Abercrombie.

Coppa will be executive vice president and partner, according to a press release.

Coppa, former executive director of Pacific Resource Partnership — the Carpenters Union and contractors trade group that was instrumental in the 2012 Honolulu mayoral campaign — has been vice president of E.E. Black, a major construction company in Hawaii, and an executive with Communications Pacific, a large Honolulu communications and public relations firm.

He’s served on numerous boards of community organizations over the years.

According to the press release:

He is considered to be one of the most active executives in the community and has played a key role in advancing excellence in the public schools and in establishing the University of Hawaii, John A. Burns School of Medicine, and in building partnerships between local and military communities in Hawaii.

Mr. Coppa dedicates a considerable amount of his time to community and professional voluntary service, including directorships, trusteeships, and board memberships in both governmental and private entities.  He is active in federal, state and county level governmental affairs relating to land use planning, transportation, public works, housing, tourism and education.

Capitol Consultants has lobbied on behalf of several high-profile companies, including Monsanto, Wal-Mart, private prison contractor Corrections Corporation of America and tobacco giant Altria. Other clients include the Hawaii Lodging & Tourism Association, Motion Picture Association of America, UHA Health Insurance and the University of Hawaii Professional Assembly union.

Bruce Coppa, left, helped lead the Abercrombie administration.

Chad Blair/Civil Beat