Jason Delgado
Democratic Sen. Lauren Book may run for a statewide office in 2022, POLITICO Florida reported on Wednesday.
Book, who represents Broward County, is reportedly considering a bid for Florida’s Chief Financial Officer, a position currently held by Republican Jimmy Patronis.
The CFO manages a variety of responsibilities including state fund investment, fraud investigations and unclaimed properties. The Florida CFO also serves as the State Fire Marshal. The officeholder sits as one of three Florida Cabinet members.
“Sen. Book clearly has a very bright future and is being approached by a number of leaders about seeking higher office,” Steve Vancore, a Book consultant, told POLITICO Florida. “At this critical time in our state, her focus is on her Senate duties, but nothing is off the table.”
While Vancore stopped short of specifying which statewide position – if any – Book may seek, the online news outlet reported “there has been increased talk of her running for CFO.”
POLITICO Florida cited two unnamed sources who supported the notion.
“Senator Book would be an excellent choice for Democrats as our CFO nominee,” a longtime Florida Democratic operative told the outlet. “I’d be all in on Book for CFO on day one.”
The other unnamed Democratic source was quoted saying Book “is increasingly being mentioned as a serious contender for CFO.”
Book has served in the Florida Senate since 2016. Senate President Wilton Simpson in December named Book as the chair of the Committee on Children, Families and Elder Affairs. Book will serve as the committee chair for two years.
Patronis, meanwhile, was appointed CFO by Gov. Rick Scott in 2017 and reelected in 2018. Patronis represented a Panhandle district in the Florida House of Representatives from 2006 to 2014.
Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried is the only statewide elected Democrat. She sits on the Cabinet along with Patronis and Attorney General Ashley Moody.
3 comments
Virgil Connetta
December 16, 2020 at 3:20 pm
This is great! She can investigate tampon fraud.
Ocean Joe
December 16, 2020 at 4:38 pm
Democrat or not, she needs to answer for the public beach access give away. No matter how you torque this, it was not good public policy and one more grab by those who don’t need it.
I stand with Palestine
December 18, 2020 at 11:00 am
All she cares about is money. Her charity is milking millions from taxpayers. Lauren Book for State Prison.
Let’s be honest here, she knows a reckoning is coming after she screwed over the Parkland parents.
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