Florida Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater is seeking the presidency of Florida Atlantic University.
Atwater's decision to seek the job likely opens a statewide Cabinet post for the 2014 elections. Atwater had been running for re-election and had not drawn a serious opponent.
Atwater emailed his staff on Saturday to tell them about his decision to seek the FAU job. FAU's previous president, Mary Jane Saunders, abruptly resigned last May amid a series of controversies that rocked the school. The Palm Beach Post first reported about Atwater's decision.
In his email, Atwater said he held a "special affinity" for FAU since he championed it during his time in the Florida Legislature. Two of his children graduated from FAU and his daughter is currently enrolled there.
