JaxBiz, the nonprofit, nonpartisan arm of the JAX Chamber, is endorsing Paul Renner for the open District 15 seat in the Florida House.
The seat represents Jacksonville’s Westside and is currently held by Daniel Davis, chamber president and CEO. He is not seeking another term.
Renner is a local business attorney and former active duty reserve officer in the U.S. Navy.
The JaxBiz board interviewed Renner and his opponent, businessman Jay Fant, but “overwhelmingly” chose Renner, according to a news release on the endorsement.
It did not name Fant by name in the release. The Fant family started First Guaranty Bank and Trust Co. in 1947 and ran it until it failed in 2012 and was acquired by CenterState Bank.
“Paul is the type of visionary leader the business community needs in Tallahassee,” said Mike Hightower, chair of the JaxBiz board. “Paul’s experience as a military commander and his recent leadership in combat deployment is invaluable. And equally important, he knows what the community needs to grow jobs and improve the quality of life in Northeast Florida.”
The primary election is Aug. 26.