Florida Chief Financial Officer: A voter's guide

Florida Chief Financial Officer

Type of Race: Partisan

Who can vote: All registered voters can vote in the general election

What's next: The winner will take office the first Monday in January

How much does the position pay: $128,972

Jimmy Patronis

Party: Republican

Age: 50

Profession: Chief financial officer and fire marshal for the state of Florida

Qualifications: As Florida's CFO, Jimmy Patronis Jr. has returned $1.2 billion in unclaimed property to citizens, arrested over 3,000 criminals committing insurance fraud, helped close 75,000 insurance claims and secured $136.5 million in claims paid to Florida citizens.

Website: joinjimmy.com/

Q: What skills do you possess that makes you an effective leader?

A: One of my favorite parts of my job is the ability to talk to so many amazing people. This job requires an immense amount of gratitude and humility; the ability to sit down in a room full of business owners and listen to each one of them and their issues, to stand alongside first responders and watch them work or hear their heroic stories, and then to be able to go to Tallahassee and stand up for each and every one of them. This job requires perseverance, determination, and a heart for people and I think the past four years have proven that I've got what it takes to be the CFO of our great state.

Q: If elected, what legislation or policy will you advocate while in office?

A: The most pressing issue I have started taking on already as CFO is protecting our small businesses against the super-sized IRS. I am helping craft legislation that will safeguard small businesses from being politically targeted by the IRS. Florida has seen $23 billion in new income come to the state since the pandemic so we know the IRS is going to come after us and our money. I'm fighting to keep it where it belongs, in the pockets of our people.

Adam Hattersley

Party: Democrat

Age: 44

Profession: Author and former state representative

Qualifications: Veteran, master's degree in aerospace engineering and vast experience in financial and data analytics and business management. Strong reputation for leadership with integrity.

Website: adamforflorida.com/

Q: What skills do you possess that makes you an effective leader?

A: I have a strong reputation for integrity and hard work, earned both in the U.S. Navy and in the Florida Legislature, and have never shied away from doing what's right.

I am a problem solver who is ready to put politics aside and do what's best for the people of our state, not what's best for my political party or myself.

I am ready to hold all sides of government accountable to their constituents and the Constitutions of the United States and Florida. I am ready to bring the interests of the people back to the CFO's office.

Q: If elected, what legislation or policy will you advocate while in office?

A: Property insurance. Florida is in a major property insurance crisis, and the CFO's office needs a leader who is ready to take that problem head-on, and do so with solutions in mind instead of politics.

This crisis has caused Florida to become the least affordable state to live in in the entire country and is costing every one of our residents money.

It's time to vote with our wallets and elect a CFO who cares about Floridians' families, their bank accounts and their futures.