Scott names Patronis, former state House member, as CFO

TALLAHASSEE — Jimmy Patronis, a former state House member from Panama City and a top state utility regulator, will take over as Florida’s next Chief Financial Officer starting Friday.

Gov. Rick Scott named Patronis to the Cabinet-level post at a news conference held in Captain Anderson’s, Patronis’ family-owned restaurant in Panama City. Patronis takes over the position from Jeff Atwater, who is resigning for a job at Florida Atlantic University. Atwater’s last day is Friday.

“I want every family in Florida to have the same opportunities that my family had. As Florida’s next CFO, I want Florida to be the place where government does its job fairly and predictably so workers can find great jobs at great businesses,” Patronis said.

Patronis is a fifth-generation Floridian who takes on the CFO job after serving in the Florida House from 2006-2014, and then becoming a member of the Public Service Commission, the state’s utility regulatory body.

Scott touted those experiences in naming him to the post, lauding Patronis’ work to help him pass tax cuts and cut regulations to boost the economy. “All of the things I believe in, Jimmy’s been doing forever,” Scott said.

The Florida Democratic Party quickly slammed Patronis as a “crony” of Scott’s who isn’t qualified for the job.

“Scott’s latest example of cronyism is on full display,” state party spokeswoman Johanna Cervone said. “Floridians are facing rising insurance rates and stagnant wages, but Rick Scott is propping up yet another yes-man rather than prioritizing the needs of working Floridians.”

The CFO job is an elected position, and Patronis will finish out Atwater’s current term, which ends January 2019. Patronis wouldn’t say, however, whether he will run to keep the job in 2018.

“There’ll be plenty of time to talk about politics later. Right now, I’m just focused on doing the best job I can as the next CFO for the state,” Patronis said.