Florida’s chief financial officer is one of the 11 Republicans who have announced their candidacies.
Florida’s chief financial officer and fire marshal said that if he wins the upcoming special election to fill former Rep. Matt Gaetz’s congressional seat, he will be an advocate for President-elect Donald Trump’s voters.
“Matt Gaetz was a loyal soldier for President Trump,” CFO Jimmy Patronis told The Epoch Times on Dec. 12. ”I’m a loyal soldier for President Trump. I would not have gotten his endorsement if I didn’t have his trust in order to to pursue this.”
When asked to compare himself to Gaetz, Patronis said: “I’m going to still be just as passionate on those exact same issues and question the foolishness of the ridiculousness of Washington.”
If elected, Patronis will represent Florida’s First Congressional District, which is the seat up for grabs.
He said the priorities include cutting the deficit, building the wall, stopping fentanyl from coming across the border, ensuring American children grow up in a safe society, lowering costs, and renewing the nation’s commitment to veterans and servicemen and women.
Patronis is one of several Republicans who have announced their candidacies. He said his decision to run was in part because Trump wanted him to.
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“When President Trump asks you to run for Congress, you don’t say no,” he said with a laugh.
He said he was also inspired by the assassination attempts on Trump and the election results.
“This is not just a Republican or Democratic or independent thing,” he said. “This is an attitude that America has to want to right the ship. So I’m inspired. I’m excited. I’m looking forward to the fight. I’m not looking to go up there and make friends.”
Eleven GOP candidates remain in the field, after some of the first to announce their candidacies backed out upon learning of Trump’s pick.
“Jimmy has been endorsed by the leader of our party, and that should be enough for us to get behind him.”
Patronis said that the withdrawals demonstrated the respect that the president-elect commands and that he has the utmost respect for every candidate who decided to throw their support behind him.
Several of those remaining candidates are veterans, and Florida’s First Congressional District—part of the panhandle that includes Pensacola and five military installations—has a deep connection to the armed services.
Patronis said he is confident in his ability to win over the veteran voters and understand what they need.
“I told them, I said, what’s important to you is important to me, and so a number of the veterans have reached out to me with what their concerns are,” he said. ”I said, your issues are my issues.”
Among those issues are care for wounded veterans and improving VA clinics and hospitals. Patronis also wants to ensure more money is put into the revitalization of Tyndall Air Force Base after it was destroyed by Hurricane Michael in 2018.
Patronis will remain in his current position through April, carrying on the work he’s led across the state to improve hurricane recovery.
“We’ll continue to still carry out our insurance villages, our consumer services, our fraud units out there, because still, there’s a lot of insurance claims services that are needed,” he said. “And those won’t stop with my departure.”
He has endorsed Joe Gruters to replace him as CFO when he steps down. Trump also endorsed Gruters.
“I’ve worked with Joe since 2010,” Patronis said. ”I’m a big fan of his. He’s a very competent legislator. He’s a very competent certified public accountant. He understands how to advocate for good conservative policy, but he also understands the fiscal needs of our state.”
When asked what he would miss most about his current job, Patronis said it was the chance to work with the first responders, especially during hurricane season.
Gaetz was reelected in November but resigned a week later when Trump nominated him for U.S. attorney general. Gaetz later withdrew from consideration when it appeared his nomination wouldn’t win Senate approval.
Florida Secretary of State Cord Byrd released the schedule of events on Nov. 22 after Gov. Ron DeSantis ordered a special election in the wake of Gaetz’s resignation.
The deadline for candidates to qualify was set for noon on Dec. 6. A primary election is set for Jan. 28, with an early voting period from Jan. 18 to Jan. 25 and certification by Feb. 11. The special election will be held on April 1.
The 119th Congress is scheduled to be sworn in on Jan. 3.
Original News Source Link – Epoch Times
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