State Rep. Daniel Davis said his appointment as JAX Chamber president and CEO, announced Friday, will preclude him from running for mayor in 2015.
Davis has been rumored as a potential Republican contender against Mayor Alvin Brown, a Democrat who will seek his second term in office.
"My No. 1 priority is to grow jobs in Northeast Florida," Davis said after his the Friday news conference. "I am not running for mayor."
Brown and Tiffany Wingo, an independent, have filed as candidates for the mayor's office. Brown raised more than $104,000 in the first quarter of campaign fundraising.
Brown did not attend the news conference. Davis said he met with him Friday morning to discuss the mayor's vision about growing the local economy and on helping to capitalize on economic-development prospects.
Davis serves as a state representative for District 15, comprising Jacksonville's Westside, and it is unclear whether he will remain in the position.
Greg Smith, 2013 chamber chair and member of the CEO search committee, said Friday he and Davis will meet over the coming weeks to talk about the chamber role and collectively make a decision about Davis' elected office.
Davis also serves as president of the Northeast Florida Builders Association and said a transition plan is under way.
He will succeed Wally Lee, who stepped down as chamber president at the end of 2012 after 23 years.
JAXUSA Partnership President Jerry Mallot has served as interim president since Lee stepped down.
The chamber has about 3,000 members.
Davis said the position was "a dream come true" and he understood membership organizations and economic development from serving in office at the local and state level.
He served on City Council from 2003-10 and as Council president in 2007-08, a time he said he worked "almost weekly" with Mallot on economic development.
Davis said he looked forward to working with Mallot again and on expanding businesses of all sizes.
"I understand how the economic development world works. I know who the players are on the local level and all the different municipalities," Davis said.
"The friendships I have built over time and understanding the process will be very helpful," he said.
Davis said his main priorities include growing membership and demonstrating the value of membership; serving as a leader in public policy; and boosting the overall economy.
On the public policy front, he was asked his stand on the human rights ordinance that failed at Council in August.
Davis said Friday there was "no place for in our community for any type of discrimination."
The anti-discrimination legislation would have added language to City ordinance code banning discrimination based on sexual orientation.
Chamber and business leaders and showed support for the legislation during the public and community debate.
Transportation also could play a role in his chamber leadership.
Davis served as chair of the House Transportation and Highway Safety Subcommittee in the 2013 legislative session and wants to use his experience in helping move goods and services throughout the region.
Nathaniel Ford, Jacksonville Transportation Authority CEO, attended the news conference and said he already has spoken several times with Davis about transportation issues and the authority would continue to work "hand-in-hand" with the chamber.
Kelly Madden, chair of the chamber committee charged with finding's Lee's replacement, said Davis was selected after a national search to find a strong business leader who could develop talent, has a passion for the region, understood public policy issues and would increase value to members, among other attributes.
She said the primary trait was a being a "great leader."
"We found that," she said.
Davis will begin about the same time the chamber moves into its refurbished Downtown offices, expected July 4, according to Smith.
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