Florida’s Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis has decided to jump ship from overseeing Florida’s property insurance crisis to pursue what will likely be a much easier job in Congress. After receiving President-elect Trump’s enthusiastic “RUN, JIMMY, RUN!” endorsement on Truth Social, Patronis wasted no time submitting his resignation letter, effective March 31, 2025.
From Insurance Woes to Congressional Dreams
For those of us who have watched Patronis navigate (or perhaps more accurately, bob and weave through) Florida’s property insurance crisis, his departure might bring mixed emotions. While he hosted insurance town halls throughout the state, the tangible results for policyholders have been about as successful as a paper umbrella in a hurricane.
With Trump’s “Complete and Total Endorsement,” Patronis’s path to Congress seems as smooth as the grouper at his family’s famous Panama City restaurant. The endorsement practically guarantees his victory in the deeply conservative district, though he doesn’t actually live there – a minor detail in today’s political landscape.
Governor DeSantis now has the task of appointing a new CFO to serve the remaining term. However, DeSantis might be too busy contemplating his own political musical chairs, as he’s currently considering potential appointments for Marco Rubio’s Senate seat – including, possibly, himself.
As Patronis trades the headaches of Florida’s insurance crisis for the presumably greener pastures of Congress, I can’t help but think he’ll find the transition refreshing. After all, explaining why you voted against a federal bill is arguably easier than explaining to Floridians why their insurance premiums keep skyrocketing with less coverage and fewer consumer protections even while insurers continue to delay or deny their claims. The truth is that while he’s leaving behind the state’s insurance problems, he’ll likely find much greater success in Congress.
Jimmy Patronis truly is a great guy to be around, and his deep background in the panhandle of Florida makes him an excellent choice as a congressional representative from that area. I have no idea why virtually every step he took as CFO seemed to be in lockstep with whatever Florida’s insurance lobby demanded because he did not need to do so. I know many will point to political donations from the insurance industry as the reason for his seemingly one-sided views. But all elected republican Florida politicians receive a boatload of money from the insurance industry. However, not all continue to follow the mantra of the insurance industry lobbyists after seeing where it has placed Florida homeowners and policyholders.
Should DeSantis decide to appoint himself to Rubio’s Senate seat, we might see the virtually unknown Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Núñez stepping up as governor, creating yet another fascinating chapter in Florida’s political saga. I bet not one in ten Floridians could pick her out of a lineup. In the meantime, we’ll be watching to see who inherits the challenging role of Florida’s Chief Financial Officer – and the insurance headaches that come with it.
Thought For The Day
“The pessimist complains about the wind. The optimist expects it to change. The leader adjusts the sails.”
—John Maxwell
