Watson’s Wendell Davis is embarking on what could be a long and arduous road — the road to the presidency of the Florida Association of Realtors.
Davis, who heads the company’s property management division, is one of four candidates for FAR secretary, the first step on the ladder to the top. He said the other candidates are from Orlando, St. Petersburg and Pensacola.
“A few people encouraged me to run,” he said. “It’s been on my mind for a while. I enjoy leadership and it’s a way to give back to the community.”
Davis, a former football coach, was the inaugural president of the Northeast Florida Association of Realtors when its was formed in 1996 and enjoys wide support in this area. He’ll need to have the home base locked in, as FAR’s leaders are chosen as much by selection as election.
The state’s 67 boards and associations can make recommendations for the FAR offices to a Nominating Committee, which then produces a slate for consideration at the annual convention, to be held Aug. 19-22 in Orlando. It’s rare that anyone contests the recommendations of the committee.
Thus, the campaigning is now and Davis is hoping his supporters here will contact friends elsewhere in the state.
“You never know who knows who,” he said. “A Realtor here may have a good friend in, say, Miami, and that good friend could have influence in the board there.”
FAR’s leadership positions are usually contested and there’s a full slate of contests this year. In addition to Davis and his three opponents, there are two candidates for president-elect and three for treasurer.
The only given is the ascension of the president-elect to the top job, a move which Frank Kowalski of Miami will make this year.
Davis said that defeat isn’t the end; comebacks are frequent.
“Many times, a person will get beaten but the campaign gives them the statewide exposure,” he said. “That person then has a better chance the next time.”
An example, he said, is Buck & Buck’s Cathy Whatley, who was defeated in her first try for FAR president but eventually won, and later became president of the National Association of Realtors.
Davis didn’t think that his affiliation would hurt him — Watson has the current state president, Russell Grooms of its Ortega office.
“He’s done a great job,” said Davis. “It’s a positive reflection on our company.”
Davis has a long list of public service as well as work in the real estate community. He has served on numerous FAR committees, chairing the Political Affairs committee, and has been on the state board since 1994.
He leads Watson’s 20 property management offices and also helped start the company’s maintenance company.
Davis chaired the Clay County Chamber of Commerce in 2000.