Jimmy Patronis is a native Floridian born and raised in Panama City. He earned his associate degree in restaurant management from Gulf Coast Community College and a bachelor’s degree in political science from Florida State University. He is a partner in a family-owned seafood restaurant called Captain Anderson’s, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2017.

His public service career began as an intern in the FL Senate and the United Kingdom’s House of Commons. After graduation, Governor Lawton Chiles appointed him to the FL Elections Commission, and he was reappointed by Governor Jeb Bush. He served in the FL House of Representatives from 2006 to 2014, representing his hometown region in the FL Panhandle. He was appointed to serve on FL’s Public Service Commission, as well as the Constitution Revision Commission, which meets once every 20 years to propose changes to the state constitution.

Recognized for outstanding leadership in his hometown of Panama City and throughout FL, he is committed to active civic engagement and business development. He has chaired the Greater Panama City Beach Chamber of Commerce’s Economic Development Council, served on the board of the Bay County Economic Development Alliance, the Salvation Army Advisory Board, the Bay County Chapter of the FL Restaurant and Lodging Association, and national president for the FL Vocational Industrial Clubs of America. He is a former trustee of the Gulf Coast Medical Center, and former director of the Bay Medical Center’s Foundation and Gulf Coast Community College Foundation Board. He was instrumental in the establishment of the Northwest FL Beaches International Airport in Panama City and has served as chairman and a board member of Bay County-Panama City International Airport and Industrial District.

Patronis and his wife, Katie, are proud parents to Jimmy Theo III and John Michael and are lifelong members of the Saint John’s Greek Orthodox Church.