Florida CFO Jeff Atwater Wednesday endorsed GOP congressional candidate Ron DeSantis.
“Ron DeSantis represents a new generation of conservative leadership dedicated to constitutionally limited government,” Atwater said in a release.
DeSantis is running for the newly-drawn 6th Congressional District, which includes St. Johns, Flagler, Volusia, and Putnam Counties. Other GOP candidates include former steakhouse executive Craig Miller, St. Johns County School Board member Bev Slough, Jacksonville City Councilman Richard Clark, and state Rep. Fred Costello, R-Ormond Beach.
Atwater is the first prominent state elected official to chime in on the race.
Here is the release:
Florida CFO Jeff Atwater Endorses Ron DeSantis for U.S. Congress
PONTEVEDRA BEACH, Fla. — Republican Ron DeSantis, the Iraq war veteran and Navy reservist who is running for Congress in the new 6th congressional district of Florida, has been endorsed by Florida’s Chief Financial Officer, Jeff Atwater.
“Ron DeSantis represents a new generation of conservative leadership dedicated to constitutionally limited government. I am proud to endorse Ron to be the next conservative congressman from Northeast Florida and urge Republicans to vote for him in the primary on August 14th,” CFO Atwater said. “I am confident that Ron will be a champion for smaller and more accountable government in Washington, DC.”
“I’m excited to have the backing of CFO Jeff Atwater,” DeSantis said. “CFO Atwater is greatly respected by the conservative grassroots for his dedication to conservative principles. He has worked to create a pro-growth environment in Florida and understands that the federal government is placing far too many burdens on the economy. I want to remove burdens such as ObamaCare from the backs of small businesses and allow the free enterprise system to flourish. Economic growth and job creation will follow.”
Ron worked his way through Yale University and Harvard Law School and then elected to serve his country as an officer in the United States Navy. Ron deployed to Iraq during the 2007 troop surge as an adviser to a Navy SEAL commander in support of the SEAL counterinsurgency mission, and was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious service.
Ron lives in Ponte Vedra Beach in St. Johns County with his wife Casey Black DeSantis, an Emmy award-winning television host.