?While he passed at jumping into the Republican primary for U.S. Senate, Florida CFO Jeff Awater continues to remain politically active, endorsing candidates in competitive contests.
?Despite floating his name in the Senate race to take on Democratic incumbent Bill Nelson, Atwater has generated buzz as a future gubernatorial candidate in either the 2014 or, more likely, the 2018 election cycles. Whatever his future plans, Atwater has shown no hesitation in backing candidates in some of the most competitive Republican primaries in Florida.
?Atwater waded into a competitive state Senate primary on Monday when he backed former Senate President Tom Lees bid to return to Tallahassee. While Lee faces Rep. Rachel Burgin, R-Tampa, in the Republican primary for a state Senate seat, a host of prominent GOP leaders continue to endorse him -- including Atwater on Monday and Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi last week.
?"?Tom Lee is the conservative Republican that Hillsborough County needs to fill the seat currently held by my former colleague and friend Ronda Storms," Atwater said on Monday. As a longtime family business owner in Hillsborough County,? ?Tom fits the profile of the kind of citizen legislator we need more of in the Senate.
??I know Tom will continue to carry on the exemplary conservative leadership that Tom showed while serving alongside Governor Bush, Atwater added.? ?As a fellow senator,? ?I saw Tom's commonsense,? ?effective leadership make great things happen for the people of Florida.? ?And I can't wait to see Tom get back to work on behalf of Hillsborough County again.?"
?While Atwater has not endorsed any of the Republican hopefuls looking to challenge Nelson, he has been active in backing candidates at the legislative and congressional level. In what appears to be an intriguing and competitive Republican primary on the First Coast for a state Senate seat, back in May, Atwater endorsed former Rep. Aaron Bean over Rep. Mike Weinstein, R-Jacksonville. In a competitive Republican primary for a new congressional seat stretching along the Atlantic coast from south of Jacksonville to Volusia County, Atwater backed Ron DeSantis over the rest of the crowded field.
?Besides taking sides in some competitive Republican primaries, Atwater also has been raising his profile on the airwaves,making two national television appearances at the end of May.
?Atwater also was active during the battle for the Republican presidential nomination earlier this election cycle. He backed former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts back in October. Romney scored an impressive win in the Florida primary at the end of January.
?Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859
