Phil Ammann
Newly announced Florida attorney general candidate Ashley Moody already has one key endorsement – current Attorney General Pam Bondi.
Bondi said former Hillsborough Circuit judge is her preferred choice to be her successor and will support her when she enters the 2018 race.
“I’ve known her most of her life,” Bondi told the Tampa Bay Times Monday. “I don’t think there could be a more qualified candidate for attorney general in the entire state of Florida. I wholeheartedly support Ashley and I’m proud of her for wanting to sacrifice so much for our state.”
Bondi went Stetson University College of Law with Moody’s mother, Carol. The Attorney General first met the future judge when she was a teenager. They have been close friends ever since.
Moody spent a decade as a circuit judge in Hillsborough for 10 years, before resigning abruptly in April. After Moody’s resignation, Bondi encouraged her to run for attorney general.
Moody filed a campaign for the office last week with the state Division of Elections and is expected to officially announce her bid Tuesday.
Jacksonville Republican State Rep. Jay Fant and Democrat Ryan Torrens of Tampa have already entered the race.
“No one will outwork Ashley Moody in this race,” Bondi told the Times.
