Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis is backing Republican Griff Griffitts for House District 6 ahead of the next year’s election.

The campaign announced the endorsement from Patronis on Friday, thanking the CFO for the seal of approval and touting the ties both men have to Bay County.

“The support of CFO Patronis is a great honor to me personally and reflects positively on the work of our campaign,” said Griffitts. “His service for our community is unparalleled and, because he has already represented this district well, I know I can learn a lot from him. We are very proud to have a Bay County native in the Florida Cabinet, and I look forward to working with him in the years to come.

Patronis, a Florida Cabinet member and statewide Republican, also issued a statement, thanking Griffitts for his service to his community and lauding the “strong conservative leadership” that Griffitts could bring to the Florida House.

“I endorse Griff Griffitts for State Representative and look forward to working with him in the Florida Legislature,” Patronis said. “I’ve known Griff and his wife, Laura, for over 40 years and have tremendous respect for his family and their contributions to Bay County through the decades. Knowing them as well as I do gives me absolute confidence in Griff’s commitment to the community and his ability to make a difference through his strong conservative leadership.”

Griffitts is no stranger to the district he seeks to represent. He is a third-generation Bay County resident, graduating from Bay High School in 1989 before earning his political science degree in 1993 from Florida State University. He and his brother are co-owners of a home construction business

Griffitts also served six years on the Panama City Beach Civil Service Board, nine years on the Bay County Planning Commission and is currently serving on the Bay County Tourist Development Council. He is a member of the Bay Medical Sacred Heart board of trustees. He is also a member of the Florida State-Panama City Foundation Development Board and has served as the chairman of the Panama City Beach Chamber of Commerce and as a board member of the Bay County Chamber of Commerce.

HD 6, a right-leaning district, is represented by Republican State Representative Jay Trumbull who is term-limited heading into the 2022 election.

To date, Griffitts has raised over $100,000 since jumping into the race in March.

The only other candidate vying for the seat is Republican Brian Clowdus.