TAMPA, Fla. – Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced Monday that he will wait until after the upcoming legislative session to appoint a new lieutenant governor and state chief financial officer (CFO). The decision comes as the state prepares for a busy legislative session scheduled to run from March 4 to May 2, with DeSantis emphasizing the need to focus on pressing policy priorities before making key personnel decisions.
“We want to focus on what’s really important,” DeSantis said during an appearance in Tampa. “I also want to be able to watch how different people are able to perform over the next couple of weeks, some in the Legislature, some out of the Legislature.”
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The delay in appointments follows the resignation of two high-profile state officials. Former Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nunez stepped down last week to serve as interim president of Florida International University, while Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis will leave his post on March 31 to run in a special election for Northwest Florida’s Congressional District 1.
DeSantis acknowledged that he has not given much thought to replacing Nunez, who served as his second-in-command since 2019. “I haven’t really thought much about it,” he said, adding that he plans to take his time to ensure the right candidates are selected for both roles.
By waiting until after the session, DeSantis aims to evaluate potential candidates based on their performance and contributions during this period. “I want to see how people perform,” he said, hinting that some candidates may emerge from within the Legislature or other areas of state government.
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While the vacancies in the lieutenant governor and CFO positions are significant, DeSantis assured Floridians that state operations will continue smoothly. The lieutenant governor’s role is largely ceremonial, with no specific statutory duties, while the CFO oversees the state’s finances, insurance regulations, and firefighting services.
In the interim, other state officials and agencies will handle the responsibilities typically managed by the lieutenant governor and CFO. DeSantis expressed confidence in the state’s ability to maintain stability during the transition.
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