TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WFLA) — Former State Senator Blaise Ingoglia (R-Spring Hill) was sworn in as Florida’s new Chief Monetary Officer Monday.
“You aren’t going to see anybody struggle tougher for the taxpayer, for the patron, than I’ll,” Ingoglia mentioned.
And whereas this appointment was hardly a shock for these invested in Florida politics, among the new CFO’s plans will likely be turning heads again residence, particularly together with his plans to analyze wasteful authorities spending.
“Any of the massive spenders in these native governments that are not watching tax {dollars} correctly, you higher buckle up as a result of there is a new sheriff on the town,” mentioned Gov. Ron DeSantis.
On his first day within the workplace, Ingoglia vowed to launch audits into native governments, ensuring state funds aren’t being misused.
“I’m going to make use of the constitutional authority of the workplace of the CFO to do these audits and ensure we’re spending with responsibly on the native degree,” Ingoglia mentioned.
Ingoglia can be entering into his new position throughout a vital time for Floridians: hurricane season.
Political analysts warn he’ll need to show he is greater than only a DeSantis loyalist and that he can also ship for Floridians when the subsequent storm strikes.
“He is gonna have to essentially take care of, if we have now to reply within the state of Florida to a hurricane, are these Trump insurance policies with FEMA and state insurance policies with diverting state sources for hurricanes for different makes use of like immigration, if that may actually align together with his job and solely time can inform,” mentioned Tara Newsom, St. Pete School Political Analyst.
The political stakes could develop even greater heading into 2026
Whereas Ingoglia will serve for the subsequent 12 months, he isn’t the one one with eyes on the seat.
State Senator Joe Gruters, a Trump ally from Sarasota, has already filed to run for the place and has the backing from the president himself.
The query now turns into, “Will Florida voters stick to the DeSantis decide, or will President Trump’s endorsement form the way forward for this position?”
“I believe that there is a actual want for loyalists within the DeSantis governor’s home, similar to Trump calls for loyalists within the Trump white home, and that is why these two figures are main the Republican occasion, not simply in Florida, however nationwide,” Newsom mentioned.
