After more than a year of speculation, JAX Chamber President and CEO Daniel Davis is officially running for Jacksonville mayor.
Davis, a former two-term City Council member and former Florida House representative, filed paperwork Sept. 1 with the Duval County Supervisor of Elections Office and becomes the fourth Republican in a crowded field to replace term-limited GOP Mayor Lenny Curry.
The mayoral election is in March 2023 with a runoff scheduled for May 2023, if no candidate surpasses 50% of the vote.
In a statement from his campaign spokesperson after the filing, Davis cited education and access to employment as two focuses of his campaign.
“I’ll take on the tough challenges and seize our biggest opportunities, because the hardworking people of Jacksonville deserve the same chance I had to succeed in this great city,” Davis said.
“The ultimate crime fighter is a world class education, the dignity of a job and access to opportunity for everyone.”
He’s served in his Chamber position since 2013. In his role as CEO, Davis often makes public appearances standing alongside Mayor Lenny Curry and at times, Gov. Ron DeSantis, at major announcements.
He’s also the past president of the Northeast Florida Builders Association.
Davis, 49, enters a race that already includes other well-known local and state officials and a local media personality and nonprofit leader.
Democrats Donna Deegan, former First Coast News journalist and The DONNA Foundation CEO, term-limited State Sen. Audrey Gibson and Theresa Ann Richardson are running.
Other Republicans include City Council members LeAnna Cumber and Al Ferraro along with Frank Keasler Jr.