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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WFLA) — Not only does Florida Governor Ron DeSantis hold the power to appoint a temporary successor to Marco Rubio’s U.S. Senate seat, he will also choose who will be the state’s Chief Financial Officer when Jimmy Patronis steps down at the end of March.
Patronis is hoping to replace U.S. Representative Matt Gaetz.
President-elect Donald Trump continues to tap Floridians, creating a ripple effect of vacant seats in the sunshine state.
“These appointments are really going to reveal what DeSantis has in mind for his future and how Florida’s going to play out in that strategy,” said political analyst Tara Newsom.
Newsom said Gov. DeSantis has to weigh his options and get in line with Trump’s endorsements or continue in an independent streak like we’ve seen in the past.
“Remember that as much as Ron DeSantis is an apprentice of Donald Trump, he’s also got an independent streak,” said Newsom.
Trump has already endorsed State Senator Joe Gruters for Florida’s CFO position.
Other names that have grabbed the public’s attention are state senator Blaise Ingoglia and State Representative Mike Caruso. U.S. Representative Byron Donald’s name has even been eyed for CFO or Rubio’s Senate seat.
“I think that DeSantis has really got to weigh his options. Does he think that Joe Gruters is going to support him and his political aspirations, or is Joe Gruters getting his own ambitions set at the same level as Ron DeSantis? Are they going to become competitors or not? And that’s something that we have yet to see unfold,” said Newsom.
No matter who DeSantis appoints for CFO, Newsom adds, the statewide role is incredibly important coming off of two devastating hurricanes.
“That person is so instrumental with home insurance reform, and we are at a critical stage in the state of Florida to make sure that all Floridians have access to home insurance whether they’re Republican or Democrat. And that’s why Jimmy Patronis was beloved because he was able to hold these local town hall meetings and really try to dig deep and listen to homeowners,” said Newsom.
“Whoever Ron DeSantis appoints, not only are they going to be groomed for as a statewide office and possibly to go on to other leadership positions, but they’re going to be held to account by all of Florida’s voters. Republican and Democrat alike, and so that person has to be both affable and pretty steely and innovative to come up with ways to solve this very complex problem,” said Newsom.
Newsom also reminds folks that DeSantis has his eyes on the white house, and so whoever he puts in Rubio’s U.S. Senate seat needs to help advance not only the state of Florida, but also Governor DeSantis.
