Dear Friends,

I am proud to have received the endorsement of the Florida Police Benevolent Association (PBA), a professional association of public law enforcement officers from across Florida, for both the Primary and General Election for Chief Financial Officer. The PBA’s endorsement is an important achievement for our campaign and a meaningful one for me personally.

I have a strong record of standing up for our law enforcement professionals. As CFO I will continue to support them and what they do for our communities. I will protect their retirement and work with them and to continue to make Florida a special place to live, work, and raise a family.

Having the backing of well organized and motivated groups like the PBA is crucial to our success in November. With over 36,000 members the PBA will be able to provide us with the local support we need throughout Florida.

I look forward to working with Florida’s PBA during this election season. Together we will protect Florida’s future by bringing accountability and transparency to state government.

Sincerely,

Loranne

Naked Politics Blog, Miami Herald

On the heels of its endorsement of Alex Sink for governor, the Police Benevolent Association has now announced it will support Loranne Ausley in her bid to be chief financial officer.

Sink’s endorsement was news because the PBA hadn’t endorsed a Democrat for governor since Lawton Chiles’ first run in 1990. Now, with its endorsement of an underfunded Ausley over Senate President Jeff Atwater, the group seems to have gotten religion on Democrats.

Unsure about why the group is making the shift, but it could have something to do with the opening of a new private prison in North Florida and lingering unease over potential cuts to prison workers’ pensions.

Here’s a great re-cap of a meeting with Loranne from Gayle Andrews at Capital Outlook:

For Loranne Ausley, the visit to Ann Porter’s home to talk with black professional women and retirees would begin a dialogue with the community across the state. Ausley, a former Tallahassee member of the Florida Legislature, is the Democratic candidate for Chief Financial Officer, a cabinet post.

Ausley has a solid record of support for issues that are priorities for the black community, including education and healthcare. She discussed the healthcare insurance and education issues with the group.

Ausley’s campaign was very visible in the effort to urge the Governor Charlie Crist to veto the unpopular SB6 teacher tenure bill. A longtime and established child advocate, Ausley currently heads Healthy Kids Corporation, a $300 million public-private entity providing health insurance to the many children who fall through the cracks.

Ausley said her commitment to healthcare and education emphasizes the fact that, “she’s focused on the next generation, not the next election.”

Ausley is seeking the powerful CFO post currently held by Alex Sink. Sink is running for governor. The CFO oversees banking and finance, and insurance regulation. She is the comptroller, fire marshal and treasurer for the state of Florida.

Gayle Andrews is a former member of the Capitol Press Corps and an adjunct Journalism instructor at Florida A & M University, where she was awarded Distinguished and Outstanding Graduate status. She is a corporate and political consultant in Tallahassee.

Pensacola News-Journal, Page 3 mingle

The temperature is not the only thing getting hotter here by the day. Campaign season is in full swing with veterans defending their records and newcomers blasting career politicians as they try to become career politicians.

The latest statewide candidate to visit our area was Loranne Ausley who is running for chief financial officer. Alex Sink currently holds the position but she is moving on to seek the post of governor. Meri Asmar, Sarah and Walter Brown, Bill Hollimon, Phoebe Hollimon, Lumon May, Mary and Jim McClellan and John Ray were among those hosting the candidate.

I expected to win. I assumed a lifetime of exercise and physical activity would give me an edge. But today I write you, not to gloat, but to eat crow.

I lost. I got killed. I was blown out. I was embarrassed.

Loranne beat me by 68 minutes! Just enough time for Loranne to shower, get dressed, and be waiting for me at the car.

It is public record now that Loranne Ausley finished more than an hour before I did. So I ask you today to please help rebuild my ego. I feel that I can salvage this weekend if you would make a contribution on my behalf. Will you contribute $68 to our campaign?

P.S. I may have lost this battle, but there will be more. This is not over.

Jonathan Ducote

More on the triathlon race here: http://ausleyforcfo.com/news/2010/05/mano-a-mano/