Tim Pawlenty’s presidential campaign is receiving some help from an experienced hand in the world of education and politics: Phil Handy.

Handy, a manufacturing and services industry executive, worked as a top education adviser for Sen. John McCain during his unsuccessful 2008 campaign for the White House.

He also has strong ties to former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, who has taken an active role on education issues in that state and around the country. Handy served on Florida’s state board of education during Bush’s tenure as governor, as the state approved a host of far-reaching reforms on vouchers, charters, and tests and school grading policies.

For more details on Handy and Pawlenty’s campaign, see my colleague Sean Cavanagh’s post over at State EdWatch.