Jeff Atwater Raises Serious Bucks as Democrat William Rankin Enters Florida CFO Race

Florida CFO Jeff Atwater raised some serious cash in the third quarter of 2013, bringing in more than $343,000 during that period and kept most of it in the bank, spending less than $7,900. Atwaters campaign relied on more than $75,600 through in-kind donations in the third quarter.

So far, Atwater has raised almost $538,250, relied on more than $442,270 through in-kind donations and spent around $22,200.

Atwater does have a new opponent. While Allie Braswell flopped and abandoned his campaign after less than a week, there is a new Democrat in the race. William Rankin jumped in the race to run as a Democrat on Wednesday. Sunshine State News talked to Rankins staff on Thursday and was told their candidate has a background in the military in which he investigated government fraud and helped lead the Florida census effort back in 2000. Rankin also has a background in business and auditing the Ohio state government. A staffer informed Sunshine State News that Rankin supports medical marijuana and high-speed rail projects in Florida.