JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Tracie Davis, who narrowly missed knocking off former state Rep. Reggie Fullwood in the August Democratic primary, was chosen Tuesday by the Duval County Democratic Executive Committee to take Fullwood's place as the Democratic candidate in Duval County's state House District 13.
Fullwood was forced to give up his re-election campaign and resign from office after pleading guilty last week to federal charges of wire fraud and failing to file an income tax return.
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VIEW: DCDEC selects Democratic nominee for state House District 13
Fullwood's name will remain on the Nov. 8 ballot, but his votes will instead go to Davis. Republican Mark Griffin is also running in the general election in the heavily Democratic district.
"In June, I decided to run for this seat because I live in House District 13 and care deeply about the important challenges facing people in our neighborhoods. We have work to do in Tallahassee with issues like job creation, education, health care, public safety and transportation. During the remaining weeks of this election, I look forward to sharing with voters why my community involvement and professional experience make me the best choice to represent them in the Florida House of Representatives," Davis said in a statement released Tuesday night.
Fullwood's plea deal came less than a month after he narrowly beat back a challenge from Tracie Davis, who lost to Fullwood by less than 3 percentage points in a six-way Democratic primary.
Under Florida law, the county's Democratic Party Executive Committee had to elect a replacement candidate for the November election, although it's too late to remove Fullwood's name from the general election ballots, some of which have already been mailed.
"The Executive Committee has united behind a qualified and well-respected nominee to represent the Democratic Party in the November election,” said Neil Henrichsen, Chair of the Duval County Executive Committee. “Tracie Davis is a dedicated public servant who has distinguished herself both as an educator and as a leader in the Duval County Supervisor of Elections Office where, as deputy supervisor of elections, she helped to expand the number of early-voting sites. Her deep commitment to the people of House District 13 will help her win in November and then serve in the Florida House of Representatives with distinction.”
Fullwood, 41, was first elected to the House in 2010 and was re-elected without opposition in 2012. He served as Democratic deputy whip from 2012 to 2014.
His time in the House was interrupted in 2014 when his seat became vacant after paperwork errors prevented him from qualifying for the ballot. Fullwood returned to the House in February 2015 after winning a special election.
3-term lawmaker faces up to 20 years in federal prison
Fullwood's attorney, Robert Willis, said the lawmaker pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of failure to file an income tax return. The other 12 counts of the indictment, which was unsealed in April, will be dismissed as part of an agreement with prosecutors. Sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 9.
The maximum sentence for each count of wire fraud is 20 years, with one year the maximum term for the tax return charge. Prosecutors will likely recommend a sentence toward the lower end of the guidelines in return for Fullwood pleading guilty. The lawmaker will also forfeit more than $60,000 as part of the agreement, Willis said.
DOCUMENT: Reggie Fullwood plea agreement
Fullwood's trial was set to begin Oct. 11.
According to the indictment, from at least September 2010 to about December 2011, Fullwood electronically transferred money from the Reggie Fullwood Campaign bank account to an account of a Fullwood-owned entity called Rhino Harbor LLC. Prosecutors said he used the money for personal use at grocery, jewelry and liquor stores.
The indictment alleged that to conceal the embezzlement of campaign funds, Fullwood submitted fraudulent campaign expenditure reports to the state.
Florida law requires state candidates' campaign accounts to be separate from personal accounts. The campaign money also may not be used to defray normal living expenses, other than for transportation, meals and lodging that is campaign-related.
Fullwood is the second Jacksonville Democrat to be indicted on federal charges this year. U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown is still fighting fraud and tax charges connected to her use of funds collected by a questionable Virginia charity. The congresswoman lost her Democratic primary bid for a 13th term to former Tallahassee state Sen. Al Lawson.
"We have some problems with these individual candidates who are dealing with those in court right now," said James Poindexter, of the Duval County Democratic Party. "They're dealing with those in a way that is best for them and their families. Our job is to continue to push good candidates through the election system and get them into office."
News Service of Florida contributed to this story.