Jimmy Patronis, current incumbent in Florida’s Chief Financial Officer race, announced his endorsement by the State Fraternal Order of Police Friday in Jacksonville.
He is committed to recognizing Florida’s first responders and their contributions to protecting their communities.
Patronis spoke directly to the officials in the room, “Thank you for your service. Thank you for your sacrifice. You spend more time with each other than you do with your own families.”
Patronis is a proponent of the new state law providing posttraumatic stress disorder benefits to state firefighters, police officers and EMT’s.
According to the Florida Senate’s website, Senate Bill 376 provides workers compensation for Florida first responders who have suffered from PTSD under certain circumstances. It does not require a physical injury.
Patronis said before his appointment to CFO last year, he did not realize how much people take the work of public service officials for granted.
“You show up, beared to deal with whatever circumstance, however horrific, however good it might be, but you come, no matter what the case.”
Patronis has served as CFO since Rick Scott appointed him to the position on June 26 of last year.
A CFO also acts as the state fire marshal and oversees the state’s auditing and accounting functions, according to his opponent in this year’s race, Jeremy Ring.
Ring is a Broward County Democrat who opened the first East Coast office for the search engine giant Yahoo back in 1996.
Ring has served in the Florida Senate since 2006, right next door to Patronis who served in Florida’s House of Representatives from 2006 to 2014.
Ring’s priorities include protecting Florida’s retirement system, keeping insurance rates stable and growing the innovation economy.
Patronis continues to be vocal in support of Florida’s First Responders. His other priorities include protecting citizens from identity theft and holding elected officials fiscally accountable.
Learn more about Jeremy Ring and Jimmy Patronis on their websites.
Richard Paul Dembinsky is also running as a Write-In candidate.
The election is on November 6.
Alexandra Blackwell can be reached at newsteam@wjct.org or 904-358-6316.
