Fraternal Order of Police Endorses Jacksonville Mayoral Candidate Daniel Davis
JACKSONVILLE (FLV) – The Fraternal Order of Police endorsed Republican Jacksonville Mayoral Candidate Daniel Davis Monday.
“We are proud and we have full confidence in Daniel Davis to be the next mayor of Jacksonville,” Fraternal Order of Police President Randy Reaves said.
“No other candidate has the resume or has the proven track record as Daniel Davis to have the backs of the men and women that we represent. I proudly announce the endorsement of Daniel Davis for mayor of Jacksonville,” Reaves said.
Davis has served as the president and CEO of Jax Chamber since 2013 with an emphasis on promoting business-friendly policies. He was previously the executive director of the Northeast Florida Builders Association. It is Florida’s largest local membership trade association representing the building and construction industry in Duval, Clay, Nassau and St. Johns counties.
Davis also served on the Jacksonville City Council and served four years in the State House of Representatives.
“I am humbled and I am so grateful for every one of you for your trust in me and I promise I will not let you down,” Davis said.
If elected Mayor, Davis said he will make sure that law enforcement has what they “need to be successful to fight crime in Jacksonville.”
“You need to know that I’m going to do everything I can to make sure that you have what you need to be successful to fight crime in Jacksonville. You have protected my family and when I’m on the fourth floor of City Hall, I promise I’m gonna protect your families,” Davis said.
Davis said he’s looking forward to involving Jacksonville citizens and having “transparency in anything that takes place.”
“And honestly, I go to the negotiation table,” Davis said. “I’m there to negotiate on behalf of the citizens, not anybody else. So I’m looking forward to that opportunity as well.”
Florida’s Voice spoke with Davis after the Monday press conference. Davis explained that law enforcement will “know publicly that the mayor has got their back” and plans on “making sure the adequate funding [is] in place” for law enforcement.
“We need more police officers. We’re going to go down that road of making sure that there’s plenty of police officers on the street,” Davis said. “I’ve done it before. I‘ve made sure that we had the funding when I was city council president and that’s not gonna stop when I’m in the mayor’s office.”
Davis explained that supporting law enforcement is “critical” to improving Jacksonville communities, saying communities need to back law enforcement.
Davis said the endorsement from the Fraternal Order of Police is a “game changer” for his campaign.
“This endorsement is absolutely critical. Understanding how important public safety is to the citizens of Jacksonville, this endorsement is a game changer and I’m extremely happy to have it and I think that we’re gonna continue to see significant momentum and success throughout the rest of the campaign,” Davis said.
Davis’ Republican competitors for Jacksonville Mayor include LeAnna Cumber, Al Ferraro and Frank Keasler. Democrat candidates include Donna Deegan, Audrey Gibson and Theresa Richardson. Omega Allen is not affiliated with a party and Darcy Richardson is an Independent.
Davis said his experience working on the city and state level as well as the CEO of JAX Chamber makes him stand out from other candidates.
“A mayor is really the CEO of Jacksonville,” Davis said. “And you have to have someone who understands what it takes to be a convener, to be able to make tough decisions, to not have to ask to try to figure out how to get things done right, but to put the right people around them to make the city move forward. So, I’m excited about that and the experience that I bring because nobody has the experience level that we do to grow jobs, to run the city and to do the right thing.”
