Three more state attorneys endorse Ashley Moody for Attorney General

Republican Attorney General candidate Ashley Moody announced Tuesday that three state attorneys endorsed her bid to succeed Pam Bondi in 2018.

“As a former circuit court judge, the endorsement of these State Attorneys, many of whom have spent their lifetime dedicated to justice and the pursuit of justice for victims and their communities, is tremendous. I am honored to have their support and as part of our team. Together we will work to ensure the rule of law prevails and victims have a voice in the process,” Moody said.

The endorsements came in from 19th Circuit State Attorney Bruce Colton, 14th Circuit State Attorney Glenn Hess and 8th Circuit State Attorney William Cervone.

The trio join previous state attorney backers Phi Archer, Ed Brodsky, Brian Haas, Brad King, R.J. Larizza, Bernie McCabe and Dennis Ward, giving Moody the backing of half of Florida’s 20 state attorneys.

Moody has also picked up endorsements from Bondi and 33 Republican county sheriffs.

“I know firsthand how important it is we have an Attorney General who stands firm in support of the rule of law and knows what it takes to put criminals behind bars. To ensure we have criminals brought to justice, we must have an Attorney General who understands the law, has practiced in a courtroom, and has a strong record of defending our communities. Ashley Moody is the only candidate prepared to be our next Attorney General,” said Colton.

Hess added that the state needs “an experienced and tough Attorney General” and that Moody “has proven throughout her career that she is ready to lead our state as Florida’s Top Cop.”

Cervone echoed his colleague’s calls for an Attorney General with tough-on-crime experience.

“When it comes to the safety and security of Floridians we need an Attorney General who knows what it takes to combat crime and lock up violent criminals. Ashley Moody not only has a demonstrated history of accomplishing just that, but also has the temperament and tenacity to continue that fight in Tallahassee. I’m proud to endorse her as our next Attorney General,” he said.

Moody is running against state Reps. Jay Fant, Ross Spano and Frank White in the Republican Primary race. Competing for the Democratic nomination are Tampa Rep. Sean Shaw and Ryan Torrens.

At the end of 2017, White led in fundraising with $1.95 million on hand between his campaign and committee accounts, followed by Moody with $1.2 million in the bank, Fant with just shy of $1 million and Spano with about $50,000.

White’s total includes $1.5 million of his own money, while Fant has put $750,000 of his own cash into his campaign.