TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Legal Newsline) -- George Sheldon announced Monday he is running for Florida attorney general.
According to the Florida Times-Union, Sheldon resigned his post as the acting assistant secretary for the Administration for Children and Families under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Friday.
Before his time at the federal agency, Sheldon, a Democrat, served as the secretary of the Florida Department of Children and Families.
"I am pleased that George Sheldon has entered the race for attorney general," Florida Democratic Party Chair Allison Tant said in a statement Monday.
"For the past three years, Attorney General Pam Bondi has put her political career over the needs of Florida families. It is time to restore integrity to the Office of Attorney General."
Tant continued, "George Sheldon's lifetime of experience fighting for families at every level of government makes him a strong candidate for attorney general, and Florida voters would restore integrity and honor to the office of attorney general by electing him."
Sheldon told the Tampa Bay Times in August that Bondi's "continual flailing" against President Barack Obama's health care law is what had him interested in a run.
"You had it passed by Congress, signed by the President, an election held over it and a Supreme Court decision. At a certain point, we have to move on... but it's still in her talking points," he told the newspaper.
Bondi, a Republican, was a relative newcomer when she was elected as the state's top lawyer in 2010.
The former Tampa prosecutor -- and frequent commentator on Fox News -- narrowly defeated Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp in a three-way primary, and went on to beat state Sen. Dan Gelber to become attorney general.
Since taking office, Bondi has railed against Obamacare. In fact, she was the lead attorney general in the lawsuit to overturn the law.
She announced in July she is running for reelection in 2014.
From Legal Newsline: Reach Jessica Karmasek by email at jessica@legalnewsline.com.
Former U.S. DHHS official to run for Fla. AG
