Cabinet Races Decided; Governor’s Race Close
At least three-fourths of the next Financial Services Commission is known, as the races for Chief Financial Officer, Attorney General and Commissioner of Agriculture went to the Republican candidates. The fourth member of the Financial Services Commission– the Governor, remains to be determined although Republican Rick Scott continues to lead the tight race by a little over one percentage point as the counting continues.
For Chief Financial Officer, former Senate president Jeff Atwater prevailed on the Republican side over former state representative Loranne Ausley from Tallahassee. Republican Pam Bondi won the Attorney General’s race over the Democrat, Senator Dan Gelber. For Commissioner of Agriculture, former Congressman Adam Putnam, a Republican, defeated former Tallahassee mayor Scott Maddox.
The Financial Services Commission serves as the agency head of the Office of Insurance Regulation for purposes of administrative rulemaking. The Financial Services Commission also is responsible for hiring and retaining the respective insurance and banking commissioners.