Miami, Fla. - State Senator Alex Villalobos (R-Miami) today at Versailles Restaurant in Little Havana crossed party lines and endorsed State Senator and Democratic candidate for Attorney General Dan Gelber (D-Miami Beach). Villalobos expressed confidence in Gelber to serve as an Attorney General that focuses on the challenges facing our state and that puts Floridians first.

"I am proud to endorse my good friend and colleague, Dan Gelber in his campaign for Attorney General," said Sen. Villalobos. "As a former top federal prosecutor, Dan understands the importance of serving as an Attorney General that puts protecting Floridians above partisan politics, and that's why I've endorsed him for Attorney General. Public safety and security is not a partisan issue, and I have great confidence in Dan to always put the best interests of Florida's citizens above all else."

"It is an honor to have the endorsement of my good friend and colleague State Senator Alex Villalobos," said Sen. Gelber. "Alex and I share the view that the Attorney General needs to always put partisanship aside when addressing Florida's security challenges. The public safety issues that we need to tackle head on, like fighting fraud, keeping gangs off the streets, and taking down scam artists that prey on our seniors are not partisan issues, and as the next Attorney General, Floridians can always count on me to put their safety and security first."

Alex Villalobos is a Republican member of the Florida Senate, representing the 38th District since 2001 and serves as the Chairman of the Rules Committee. He served as the Republican Majority Whip from 2001-2002, Chairman of the Judiciary Committee from 2002-2006, and as the Republican Majority Leader from 2004-2006 in the Florida Senate. Previously he was a member of the Florida House of Representatives from 1993 through 2000.

Dan Gelber was elected to the State House of Representatives in 2000, serving as the House Democratic Leader from 2006-2008; and elected to the State Senate in 2008. Prior to elected life, Dan spent nearly a decade as a federal prosecutor, working mostly on public corruption, narcotics and civil rights cases, and serving as a top deputy in that office. He was then appointed chief counsel and staff director for the United States Senate's investigations committee where he focused primarily on terrorism and domestic security. Dan is an AV rated attorney and listed in various peer review publications including Best Lawyers in America and Florida's Legal Elite. He and his wife Joan Silverstein, a career prosecutor, make their home in Miami Beach with their three children. For more information about Dan Gelber, please visit www.dangelber.com.