by Miranda G. McLeod
Staff Writer
Earlier this year, life got quite hectic for Daniel Davis.
In addition to being elected vice president of City Council, Davis was promoted to executive director of the Northeast Florida Builders Association when long-time director Arnold Tritt stepped down.
Davis also has a few other things on his plate: he’s a husband and father of three, deacon and Bible fellowship teacher at Trinity Baptist Church and in a little over six months he’ll be up for re-election in Dist. 11.
With the exception of the mornings, Davis’ days are hardly routine. His mornings usually start with a breakfast meeting around town starting at 7 or 7:30 and often don’t end until 8 or 9 p.m. It’s breakfast at Cracker Barrel on the Westside if it’s an “upscale meeting” and Bill’s Diner if it’s “the real deal,” he said.
Davis is usually in the NEFBA office on the Southside by 8:30 a.m. where he has meetings every day. Education seminars for builders are also conducted at the NEFBA offices. Aside from his real job, a typical day can encompass everything from a scheduled Council meeting to unscheduled builder and constituent-related meetings.
One person Davis sees nearly every morning is Tritt, who’s now NEFBA’s Executive Advisor.
“Daniel is a quick learn and a good delegator,” said Tritt. “He’s honed some of his skills being chairman of the (City Council) Finance Committee and he carries over that same kind of development within the association.”
As executive director, Davis is in charge of special events and budget issues as well as making sure the association runs properly.
“We have to have everything running professionally and first-class and I’m committed to that,” he said.
NEFBA has nearly 2,000 members in nine Northeast Florida counties.
“It’s obvious he’s a leader,” said NEFBA President Jerry Linder. “He knows how to balance work and politics and his family.”
Davis’ other office is Downtown at City Hall, but he doesn’t spend too much time there by choice.
“I believe the City Council is meant for part-time work and it was meant for people in the real world to make good business decisions on how to run the city,” he said. “I feel like if I spent too much time down there I’d forget what the real world was like and that could possibly influence my decisions.”
In May, Davis was elected vice president by the Council to serve a one-year term that began July 1. As City Council Vice President, Davis said his main goal is to support President Michael Corrigan.
“Next year, if I’m blessed to be president, I would think the roles would change pretty dramatically,” he said. “But as vice president, I’m taking this entire year to support Corrigan and anyway I can help him push his plan forward, that’s what I’m going to do. The role as vice president doesn’t change a whole lot except for that you’re in line to move forward.”
Davis has continually moved up the ranks since he started his civil servant career. His first job was 10 years ago with the city’s drug courts as one of the first juvenile drug court case managers. He helped get the juvenile program started and he continues to be instrumental in getting additional funding for the program, according to Jacksonville’s Chief Deputy Court Administrator Joe Stelma.
Chief Judge Don Moran and Stelma were two of Davis’ first bosses with the city.
“We knew Daniel would make a mark somewhere,” said Stelma. “His main thoughts are his family and church. But we knew he’d do well in the political scene. It’s a big plus for someone that young to make such an impression.”
Stelma said Davis has no limits, except the limits he sets for himself.
“He keeps everything in perspective,” he said.
Davis spends as much time as he can with his wife Rebekah and his children Alivia, Caroline and Christian, but says he has to schedule it like anything else.
“It’s difficult, but important,” he said.
Usually, family times are four days a week.
“I don’t usually see them Monday, Tuesday or Thursday,” he said.
The five spend time as a family working in the yard at their Westside home just about every weekend.
“We do as many outside things as we can,” said Davis. “We try and do fun things and activities for the kids, working and enjoying the fresh air.”
Sometimes they fish at a local pond together, he said.
“Daniel takes the kids on the golf cart so I can have a quiet house,” said Rebekah, who has been married to Davis for nine years. “It’s the little things that mean a lot to me and I think it’s kind of a release for him to enjoy his kids.”
Davis’ hobbies are his children and playing golf — but not very well, he admits.
“And making my wife happy,” he said.
Davis is originally from Wisconsin, but grew up in Jacksonville and graduated from Trinity Christian Academy. He met Rebekah as a senior at Maranatha Baptist Bible College in Watertown, Wis. where he received his degree in liberal arts.
Rebekah was a freshman at Maranatha and for the first year she wouldn’t talk to Davis.
“I was a new freshman, he was the captain of the football team and a senior,” she said. “I didn’t think he was that interested.”
After time, Rebekah said she realized what a great guy he was; Davis said he thinks she just came to her senses.
On the nights Davis isn’t with his family, he usually heads to town meetings or meetings with his Westside constituents. Issues such as the Cecil Commerce Center and the homicide rates are topics he hears about on a consistent basis.
Davis said his position with NEFBA in no way affects his decision making process as a member of City Council.
“I work for the people out on the west side of Jacksonville and the members of this association know that,” said Davis. “My record is very clear that I have a balanced approach when it comes to this and usually we (the Council) make the right decision at the end of the day as to the different aspects that might impact the builders. In fact, to avoid that appearance, I’ve probably been overboard the other way.
“My record is very clear on builder-related issues. Whether I work for the association or not, my decisions would be the same. You can ask my constituents. If rezoning an area doesn’t make sense, I don’t support it. If rezonings make sense and they increase the quality of life out on the west side of Jacksonville, I do support them.
“I understand the economic impact the construction industry has on Northeast Florida. I understand there has to be a balance between different aspects in the industry.”
That drive for balance keeps Davis going.
“There’s always something. Every time you turn around there’s a crisis or there’s a fire that has to be put out,” he said. “I don’t know of a time since I’ve been on the Council where it’s just been easy. Every time you turn around there is something else.”
But Davis wouldn’t change a thing.
“If I wasn’t doing this, I would probably go crazy,” he said. “My plate is kind of full and I don’t really aspire to do any more than I’m doing right now.”
As far as future plans, Davis said he has “no earthly idea” what he’ll do next.
“He definitely has the knowledge, ability and personality to be mayor one day if he wants to be,” said City Council member Ronnie Fussell, who is Davis’ cousin by marriage. “It just depends, he could be governor or a U.S. senator if he wanted to be. But I don’t think he’s looking to do anything outside this area till his kids are older.”
“I don’t know where the road will lead, but if there’s an open door I’ll probably walk through it,” said Davis.