Leading Democrats continue to rally behind former state Sen. Jeremy Ring’s bid to become the state’s next Chief Financial Officer.
Ring announced on Thursday that Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and Fort Lauderdale Mayor Jack Seiler were backing his bid.
"With Jeremy, Floridians have a real opportunity to transform the way our state does business,” said Dyer who was the Democrats’ candidate against Charlie Crist in the 2002 state attorney general race. “His unique business background and his innovative approach combined with a real record of delivering higher paying jobs are exactly what Tallahassee needs right now."
"For too long, Tallahassee has talked about how they don’t like other people telling them how to run their state, but have been all too keen on telling our cities how to run theirs," Ring said. “Over the years I’ve gotten to know Mayors Dyer and Seiler well and to say that I respect them would be a drastic understatement. Their leadership and ability to navigate their cities through both the good times and bad is something that Tallahassee can and should learn from. I’m humbled to have their support and excited to have them join our campaign.”
U.S. Rep. Lois Frankel, D-Fla., also went bat for Ring on Thursday, calling on supporters to back his bid in a fundraising email. Frankel and other South Florida Democrats in Congress threw their support to Ring at the end of last month.
“Democratic leaders from across our great state are supporting former state Senator Jeremy Ring in his bid to be the next Florida Chief Financial Officer,” Frankel wrote. “I am excited to say that I'm one of them. Although the CFO isn't someone you see in the headlines a lot, their actions arguably touch more Floridians than any other statewide office -- from regulating insurance rates and serving as a vital check-and-balance to the governor and Legislature. I am proud to join my colleagues Congresswoman Frederica Wilson and Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman-Schultz in endorsing Jeremy Ring to be our next CFO.
“Now more than ever, we need someone who will ask the tough questions - and act as a check and balance on the Republicans in Tallahassee - and at the helm of our nation,” Frankel added.
“Jeremy Ring will ask those tough questions. He will stand up to insurance companies - and stand up for consumers. I enthusiastically support him and would be honored to work alongside him to help Florida move forward, not backwards.”
Ring has also reeled in the support of other Democrats in the Florida delegation. Last month, U.S. Reps. Ted Deutch, D-Fla., and Al Lawson, D-Fla., sent out fundraising emails on Ring’s behalf.
After a career in the private sector, including launching Yahoo’s East Coast operations, Ring won an open state Senate seat in 2006 and stayed there until retiring in 2012. During his time in Tallahassee, Ring garnered the reputation of being something of a pro-business Democrat, especially on ports issues.
Earlier this year, Gov. Rick Scott named former state Rep. Jimmy Patronis as state CFO after Jeff Atwater resigned the position. Patronis is expected to face a challenge in the Republican primary from state Sen. Tom Lee.
