State Sen. Latvala joins race for governor

State Sen. Jack Latvala filed to run for governor Friday, the first of what could be several party challengers to the initial Republican in the race, Adam Putnam.

Latvala, R-Clearwater, is scheduled to make several stops across the state next week, visiting Hialeah, his hometown of Clearwater and Panama City, though in revealing the trip he did not expressly announce he was running for governor.

But he made it official Friday, writing in a Tweet, “My papers were filed by 5-year-old Rays fan Cooper Bishop!” The boy is the son of a Latvala supporter, his campaign said.

He still wouldn’t say much about the filing or his campaign, preferring to wait until his crossstate trip.

“All we did was file the paperwork to open up a campaign account, because according to law, you can’t spend anything to talk about the race until [then],” Latvala said Friday. “That’s all I’m doing today, and next Wednesday I’ll have plenty of comments on the race itself.”

Accountant Nancy Watkins, who has been treasurer for multiple Republican campaigns, is listed at that position for Latvala’s campaign.

He’s expected to be the moderate candidate in a 2018 primary race that could eventually include House Speaker Richard Corcoran and U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis, R-Palm Coast, who are both considering runs and have been raising money through PACs.

Latvala, the Senate’s top budget writer, clashed several times with Corcoran this year.

It started with Corcoran’s move to require greater transparency for special projects and pork barrel spending by changing House rules. Latvala said the changes infringed on the Senate’s ability to write a budget. Eventually the two chambers reached a compromise on a joint rule.

The major fight between the pair was over Visit Florida. Corcoran pushed to eliminate funding for the tourism promotion group — something he considered “corporate welfare” — whereas Latvala saw the group as vital to the state’s economy.

Corcoran reached a compromise with Gov. Rick Scott to keep Visit Florida’s funding but add stricter transparency and oversight measures. But the fight is likely to resume during the 2018 legislative session as both men gear up for a gubernatorial run.

Putnam, the agriculture commissioner, has built up a $13 million campaign account dating back years before he even announced his campaign for governor in winter.

On the Democratic side, former U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham, Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum and Winter Park businessman Chris King have all declared their candidacies, and Orlando attorney John Morgan and Miami Beach Mayor Phil Levine have said they were considering campaigns.

Potential candidates have until June 2018 to file for the governor’s race. Primaries will be held in August 2018, leading to the general election in November.