Businessman Todd Wilcox announced in Orlando on Friday that he is resigning his post as CEO of Patriot Capital to make an exploratory effort at running for the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate in 2016. U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., who currently holds the seat, is running for the Republican presidential nomination and has said he will not run for a second Senate term
Speaking at an event held by Ernst and Young on Friday night, Wilcox ripped into the Democrats, including hitting President Barack Obama’s economic policies.
“This celebration of the entrepreneurial spirit could not come at a better time as free-market capitalism is under constant attack by the left of the Democratic Party,” Wilcox said. “The president once said ‘You didn’t create that … ’; he was talking to all of us as entrepreneurs. While I took exception to those comments when he said them and still do today, there was some truth in them.
“I had a vision to start my business,” Wilcox added. “I put together a plan and mustered the intestinal fortitude and determination to implement my plan. I took significant financial risk to initiate my plan and I inspired a small group of people to get behind me as I launched my business. But I did not do it alone. I had the support of my wife Christine and my three daughters who sacrificed my lack of presence in mind and spirit as we worked long hours to create something significant out of a mere idea. I had the support of my angel investor Ammar who trusted me with his seed investment that sparked life into my idea. And I have had the loyalty, dedication and hard work from the talented team of very professional employees that helped build the business over the last nine years. I was merely the conductor and they were the instruments that made the music. To all of them I am very grateful and any accolades of our success is shared with all of them."
Wilcox also offered some biographical information, including noting his service in the Army, his work for the CIA and his years in the private sector.
“Only in America can you go from dirt poor to Entrepreneur of the Year,” Wilcox said. “We, as successful entrepreneurs, owe so much to our free-market capitalist democracy. For without this system we would not have been able to fulfill our dreams of creating something larger than ourselves. I have served my country as a combat veteran, first as an infantry platoon leader in Desert Storm and later as a Green Beret in the U.S. Army Special Forces. I also served as a CIA officer in the Middle East and then I started a business that is dedicated to supporting America’s military, diplomatic and economic prominence. Because I feel so strongly that our free-market capitalist democracy is under attack, I am stepping up to serve again. In the coming weeks I will resign my position as CEO of Patriot Capital to fully explore the viability of running for the U.S. Senate in 2016 as a Republican candidate. I thought there was no better place to announce my exploratory efforts than here tonight as we celebrate the entrepreneurial spirit that has defined America for so many years. It is not too late to restore America’s prominence.”
Politico reported last week that Wilcox was testing the waters, emailing Republicans about his intentions.
Wilcox joins a still-developing field of candidates. U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis, R-Fla., is already in the race while fellow congressmen U.S. Reps. Jeff Miller, Curt Clawson and David Jolly continue to leave the door open to running for the Republican nomination. Other potential Republican hopefuls include Lt. Gov. Carlos Lopez-Cantera, former Attorney General Bill McCollum and businessman Randy Fine. On the Democratic side, U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy, D-Fla. is already running while U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson, D-Fla., is also a possible candidate. Republican strategist Roger Stone is a possible candidate on the Libertarian line.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN
