JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) - Republican nominee for governor Rick Scott is set to name State Rep. Jennifer Carroll as his running mate.

Scott's campaign said he would announce his choice for lieutenant governor Thursday in Jacksonville. Events in Orlando and the Tampa area will follow.

Carroll confirmed in an e-mail to The Associated Press early Thursday that she is Scott's choice.

The 51-year-old Carroll served in the U.S. Navy for 20 years and was elected to the Florida Legislature in 2003.

She would become the state's first black woman to be a candidate for lieutenant governor.

Meanwhile, Lawton "Bud" Chiles is throwing his support to Democrat Alex Sink in the Florida governor's race. Sink is joining Chiles for a news conference Thursday in Tallahassee to formally announce he is dropping his independent candidacy.

Chiles also is endorsing Sink, now Florida's chief financial officer, in her race against Republican newcomer Rick Scott, who made a fortune in the health care business.

Chiles is the son of the late "Walkin' Lawton" Chiles, a Democratic icon as Florida's governor and a U.S. senator. The younger Chiles ran as an independent due to frustration with the influence of money on both parties.

He says he's dropping out, though, because he doesn't believe he can raise enough money to win.