Jeff Atwater
| Jeff Atwater | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Chief Financial Officer of Florida | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office January 4, 2011 |
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| Preceded by | Alex Sink |
| Member of the Florida Senate from the 25th district |
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| In office 2002–2010 |
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| Preceded by | Burt Saunders |
| Succeeded by | Ellyn Setnor Bogdanoff |
| Member of the Florida House of Representatives from the 83rd district |
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| In office 2000–2002 |
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| Preceded by | Sharon J. Merchant |
| Succeeded by | Carl J. Domino |
| Personal details | |
| Born | April 8, 1958 St. Louis, Missouri |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Carol Funkhouser |
| Alma mater | University of Florida (B.A.) (M.B.A.) |
| Profession | Banker |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
Jeffrey "Jeff" Atwater (born April 8, 1958) is currently the Republican Chief Financial Officer of Florida.
Atwater moved to Florida at the age of 4 and grew up in North Palm Beach, Florida, where his father, a veteran World War II pilot and FBI Agent, served as police chief. He went on to gain substantial experience in banking, and was elected to the North Palm Beach Village Council in 1993. Later, he served as chairman, president, and CEO of the Barnett Bank of Broward County and the Treasure Coast, and later as Market President of Riverside National Bank for Palm Beach and Broward counties.
In 2000, Atwater ran for the Florida House of Representatives from the 83rd District, defeating Democratic nominee Pam Dunston and independent Michael I. Danchuk. After just two years in the House, he ran for the Florida Senate from the 25th District, which included Palm Beach and Broward counties. Unopposed in the primary election, Atwater faced off against long-serving Democratic Attorney General of Florida Bob Butterworth in the general election, and, aided by then-Governor Jeb Bush's strong performance that, defeated Butterworth by a solid margin. He was re-elected in 2004 with no opposition and in 2008 against Democratic nominee Linda Bird, a realtor. From 2008 to 2010, he was the President of the Florida Senate.
Following the decision by then-Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink to run for Governor rather than seek re-election, Atwater jumped into the race to succeed Sink. In the general election, Atwater faced off against former State Representative Loranne Ausley, whom he defeated in a landslide.
Though Atwater and his proponents assert that his banking background provides him with a unique insight into legislative issues pertaining to banking, insurance, finance and fiscal responsibility, the bank that he was heavily involved in, Riverside National Bank, was taken over by the FDIC and declared a "failed bank."[1]
References [edit]
- ^ "FDIC: Failed Bank Information - Bank Closing Information for Riverside National Bank of Florida, Fort Pierce, FL". Fdic.gov. Retrieved 2010-09-04.
External links [edit]
- Jeff Atwater for CFO
- Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater
- Project Vote Smart - Senator Jeffrey H. 'Jeff' Atwater (Fla.) profile
- Follow the Money - Jeffrey H (Jeff) Atwater
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