Prominent Jacksonville Leader Endorses Mike Weinstein for Senate

Prominent Jacksonville businessman and GOP activist Tom Petway, still well-regarded on the First Coast for helping bring a National Football League franchise to the region, announced on Wednesday that he is backing Rep. Mike Weinstein, R-Orange Park, for the state Senate. Weinstein is running for a seat that represents parts of Duval and Nassau counties.

Having worked with Mike for over 20 years in the community, I know he would serve us well in the Florida Senate, said Petway. As the first chairman of the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission, I had the opportunity to work alongside Mike as he served as the JEDC executive director. We worked together on bringing the Jacksonville Jaguars to North Florida and the Super Bowl to Jacksonville, and together with Wayne Weaver and Peter Rummell we were able to secure the largest sporting event in the country here in Jacksonville. Mike is a proven job creator for Northeast Florida and we need him to represent us in the Florida Senate."

It is an honor to have the support of one of Jacksonville's leaders like Tom Petway, Weinstein said. I look forward to working with him to make sure that the foundation is laid in our community so businesses can prosper and our North Florida quality of life is preserved.

Earlier in the day, Weinsteins main rival for the GOP nod -- former Rep. Aaron Bean -- unveiled the support of state Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam.