A.G. Gancarski
After a one-day delay in the vote to replace Reggie Fullwood as the Democratic candidate for House District 13, the Duval County Democratic Executive Committee convened Tuesday to make a selection.
Rumors in the days ahead of the vote were fast and furious, with potential replacement candidates running the gamut.
However, as the vote approached, it was clear that Tracie Davis, runner up in the Aug. 30 primary against Fullwood, was going to be the consensus choice of the 88 voting members and the two proxies on hand at the IBEW Hall in downtown Jacksonville.
Duval County School Board member Paula Wright, who had been linked to a run for this seat, did not attend.
****
Fullwood’s name will be on the ballot, but there will be notices in polling places as well as notices sent to vote-by-mail and military voters directing those interested in voting for Davis to vote for Fullwood, said Duval DEC Chair Neil Henrichsen.
State Sen. Audrey Gibson added that it would be incumbent on Democrats to ensure that voters know the scenario.
“A vote for Mark Griffin (R) is a vote for Mark Griffin (R). A vote for Reggie Fullwood is a vote for whoever our nominee is,” Gibson said.
“We don’t want any of our voters confused as to whether they’re voting for a Democrat or a Republican,” Gibson said, before nominating Davis — to the surprise of no one in the house.
****
Davis addressed the crowd, getting applause from the outset, pledging to bring the “energy” of that ovation to the campaign.
“Most people, when they thought about that race in the primary, they said why … it was almost heart-wrenching reluctant to jump in that race, because there was a person in that race I’ve known for years,” Davis said.
“I took the step on faith to say I was going to do this,” Davis added. “I’m glad I took that step. And I hope you’re glad I took that step too … and I’m going to ask you to take that step with me.”
“I need my party to support me … so I can be the candidate that takes the Democratic Party to a win. So help me do that!”
****
No other nominations were advanced.
The nomination was closed.
Davis was nominated by unanimous consent.
“I want to say thank you,” Davis said. “Just let me breathe for a minute. It’s been a very emotional roller coaster.”
For Davis, who lost in 2015 to Supervisor of Elections Mike Hogan, and who lost in the primary in August, this was sweet vindication.
