A Democratic former lawmaker is officially running to be the state’s next chief financial officer.
When former State Senator Jeremy Ring got into politics, he says he was the consummate newcomer. The onetime Yahoo Executive had just moved to Florida, and said he didn’t know who his own lawmakers were. But he put his industry experience to work, representing Broward County for ten years. A common refrain for Ring is the need for what he calls an innovation economy. He rehashed the idea again in a farewell speech on the Senate floor last year.
“Do we want young people in the state to grow up to be the next Steve Jobs or Mark Zuckerberg or to be a land use attorney or homebuilder? I think we want them to be the next Mark Zuckerberg or Steve Jobs. And what can we do here that’s gonna be innovative, that’s gonna inspire them?” Ring asked.
Ring imagines an economy fueled by higher ed and technology that attracts and retains talent.
“How do you create an economy, a world where, you’re not just taking Amazon.com and bringing a fulfillment center here, but starting the next Amazon.com from here?” Ring asked.
The current CFO Jeff Atwater is taking a post at Florida Atlantic University, and the governor will name a replacement to finish out his term. Ring is the first candidate to file to run for the 2018 opening.
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