Florida CFO Race Begins

Florida Senate President Jeff Atwater says he’s running for chief financial officer (CFO).

The North Palm Beach Republican filed as a candidate just about a week after incumbent CFO Alex Sink, a Democrat, entered the 2010 governor’s race.

Sink, in turn, made her announcement a day after Republican Gov. Charlie Crist became a U.S. Senate candidate.

Atwater is the first candidate to file for CFO. He is market president of Riverside National Bank for Palm Beach and Broward counties. His great-grandfather and great-uncle served as governor. Atwater was elected to the Senate 2002 after serving a term in the state House.

The CFO oversees the Office of Insurance Regulation among other key state agencies.