Florida Gov. Rick Scott has named Miami-Dade Property Appraiser Carlos Lopez-Cantera as the state's new lieutenant governor.
The Florida Republican Party of Florida made the announcement on their Facebook page ahead of the governor's formal announcement in Miami.
Lopez-Cantera, 40, is a former state legislator and an ally of U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio.
His appointment comes almost 10 months after Jennifer Carroll abruptly resigned after she was interviewed by law-enforcement authorities about work she once did for a charity that prosecutors have said was a front for a widespread gambling ring. She has not been accused of any wrongdoing.
About Carlos Lopez-Cantera
Source: Miami-Dade Property Appraiser's Office
Born in Madrid, Spain and raised in Miami, Carlos Lopez-Cantera graduated from Miami-Dade College and continued his studies at the University of Miami, where he graduated with a degree in Business Administration.
On August 14, 2012 the citizens of Miami-Dade County elected Carlos Lopez-Cantera as the Property Appraiser of Miami-Dade County. Carlos campaigned on a platform to make interaction with the office of the property appraiser easier, increasing community outreach and being more responsive to the needs of the residents of Miami-Dade.
Carlos has an in-depth understanding of housing, planning, and growth issues which he has earned through his work in Miami-Dade County’s real estate market for the past 15 years. As a licensed realtor, he has worked in the industrial development field for over 10 years and from 2002 through 2004, Carlos served as a member of the Miami-Dade Planning Advisory Board.
From 2004 through 2012, Carlos served as a member of the Florida House of Representatives. Over the course of his 8-year term in the Legislature, Carlos served as a member of the Governor’s Property Tax Reform Committee, the My Safe Florida Home Advisory Council and the Miami-Dade County Mayor’s Mortgage Fraud Task Force. In the Florida House of Representatives, he chaired the Committee on Business Regulation and the Government Affairs Committee. Carlos served as Majority Whip from 2009 through 2010 and as the Majority Leader of the Florida House of Representatives during the final two years of his term from 2010 through 2012.
Carlos has been married to his wife Renee since 2005 and they have two young daughters, Sabrina and Sofia.
Crist campaign: Scott's selection shows 'extreme partisanship'
Charlie Crist's campaign released a short statement following Tuesday's announcement of Carlos Lopez-Cantera as Florida's new lieutenant governor.
Kevin Cate, a spokesman for the Crist campaign, said:
Our campaign is focused on putting the people back in charge and protecting the middle class from four more years of Rick Scott's extreme partisanship.
Crist, the former Republican governor-turned independent in 2010, is running for his old job, this time as a Democrat.