Florida CFO Atwater Seeks University Job
Florida Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater is seeking the presidency of Florida Atlantic University.
Atwater’s decision to seek the job likely opens a statewide Cabinet post for the 2014 elections. Atwater had been running for re-election and had not drawn a serious opponent.
Atwater emailed his staff on Saturday to tell them about his decision to seek the FAU job. FAU’s previous president, Mary Jane Saunders, abruptly resigned last May amid a series of controversies that rocked the school. The Palm Beach Post first reported about Atwater’s decision.
In his email, Atwater said he held a “special affinity” for FAU since he championed it during his time in the Florida Legislature. Two of his children graduated from FAU and his daughter is currently enrolled there.
The Department of Financial Services that Atwater heads as CFO includes divisions for insurance agent licensing, insurance fraud, the insurance consumer advocate and workers’ compensation.