Florida Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater praised freshman legislator Larry Lee, D-Port St. Lucie, at the Florida Chamber of Commerce Insurance Summit on Thursday.

“I watched this man’s generosity, he gave more than he ever took, he’s going to be a great legislator,” Atwater said of Lee.

Lee, a one-time Denver Bronco draft pick, is an insurance agent who in 1994 hired Atwater while working as a director for the former Barnett Bank.

Lee, who wasn’t backed by the St.  Lucie County teachers' union, won the new District 84 seat after a late barrage of outside negative advertising was aimed his way.