J. Ben Watkins

Director

Mr. Watkins was appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Cabinet as Director of the Division of Bond Finance in July of 1995 and has served under four Governors.� The Division of Bond Finance is responsible for issuing bonds for the State of Florida and advising on other debt management policies for the State.� The Division administers bonding programs for the Departments of Education, Transportation, Environmental Protection, and Management Services as well as borrowings for the State University System, Florida Turnpike System and the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund.� The Division is also responsible for allocating the private activity bond volume cap, maintaining a local government reporting system for bond issues, calculating federal arbitrage rebate liabilities and developing a system to insure compliance with the SEC’s secondary market disclosure requirements.�Prior to joining the Division, Mr. Watkins practiced law with Sutherland Asbill & Brennan in Atlanta, Georgia.� His practice area was concentrated in public finance.�EDUCATIONB.S., Accounting, AuburnUniversity, 1979; former CPA with Peat MarwickJ.D., University of Florida’s College of Law, 1984; member State Bars of Florida and Georgia since1987PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIESFormer Board Member and Vice Chairman of the Municipal Securities Rulemaking BoardGovernment Finance Officers Association – Executive Board Member and former Chairman of theCommittee on Governmental DebtNational Association of State Treasurers/State Debt Management NetworkNational Association of Bond LawyersMunicipal Code Corporation BoardTall Timbers Research and Land Conservancy Board�