By Ross Kerber

(Reuters) – Elon Musk was praised by a Florida official for his offer to buy Twitter Inc (NYSE:) Pension officials told the company that their efforts to stop the bid might hurt shareholder value.

In a phone interview, Jimmy Patronis, Florida Chief Financial Officer, stated that “we’re certainly very concerned about their leaving offers on the table.”

A poison pill the company adopted last week in response to Musk’s interest “hurts our state’s equity position in Twitter, and I’m not happy,” Patronis said.

Patronis, one of three elected officers who serve as trustees of State Board of Administration is a retirement asset trustee with $250 billion. At the next month’s annual meeting it will vote 808 093 Twitter shares, making it about 70th biggest investor.

Twitter reps did not respond immediately to queries.

Patronis’ comments demonstrate how politics has shaped discussions about social media control.

Musk (NASDAQ:) Inc., the chief executive officer at Tesla, described Twitter’s interest as an extension to his concern for freedom of speech.

Patronis, a Republican, has criticized Twitter over steps such as banning Donald Trump’s account. This was due to further violence incitement after the storming the U.S. Capitol.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, another pension trustee, on Tuesday also made comments https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-04-19/desantis-says-florida-could-act-over-twitter-s-musk-rebuffal critical of Twitter’s board. Patronis stated that DeSantis and Ashley Moody (the third trustee) have yet to decide how they will vote for Twitter directors.

However, they informed Lamar Taylor, SBA’s interim executive Director, that their concerns were to be raised to Twitter’s leadership. Taylor’s mission, Patronis said, was to “go and put these guys on notice, we’re sitting trigger finger itchy to make something happen.”

Patronis said that he was a “rabid Elon Musk lover”, but that he is open to higher offers. Patronis said that if an equity group wanted to purchase the entire thing, they have more power.