Republican Dean Black is seeking re-election in Florida House District 15, which covers North and West Jacksonville. No other Republicans qualified for the race, and there are no Democrats in the race, but there is a no party affiliation candidate, Chadd Charland, who will appear on the general election ballot in November. A write-in candidate also qualified for the race.
News4JAX sent a questionnaire to each candidate asking about their background and their views on several issues. Scroll down to read the responses of those seeking your vote in their own words.
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Note: Responses are sorted alphabetically by party and are presented exactly as submitted, with no editing by News4JAX staff.
| REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE |
Dean Black
Occupation: Small business owner and rancher
Age: 60
Family: Married to Kim Black for 28 years, five grown children, 6 grandchildren
Education: Bachelor of Arts
Political Science
University of Mississippi
1988
Political experience: Member of the Florida House of Representatives since 2022
State Committeeman for Duval County, Republican Party of Florida, 2024 to present
Former Chairman, Republican Party of Duval County, 2018-2024
Former Vice Chairman, Republican Party of Duval County, 2018
What do you see as the top three issues in this race, and how do you plan to address them?
The main issue is affordability. People are getting further and further behind. We can address this by reducing the tax burden, continuing to work to reduce insurance costs, and by reducing regulatory burdens in order to bring housing costs down.
Public Safety is another important issue. We must support our police departments and firefighters. Public safety must always come first!
Growth management is another critical issue, particularly in our area. We must make sure we are developing infrastructure while protecting our critical environment. We must protect woodlands and ensure our waterways and aquifers are clean and our air is pure. We cannot allow growth to destroy the beauty and quality of life that leads people to want to move here in the first place.
How can you help voters in a way that others running for this office cannot?
As a small businessman, I know how important customer service is. I know how to help constituents and so does our excellent staff. We are committed to service. With four years as a State Representative, I have learned how to lead, how to navigate Tallahassee when a citizen needs us to help them, and how to advocate for our local needs at the highest levels. As an eighth generation resident of North Florida, I know our area well. I am deeply committed to knowing what we need, and advocating to get those needs met!
What would you hope to be remembered for accomplishing after serving in this office?
I would like to be remembered as someone who listened and cared and had vision who was led by Faith. We have accomplished much in the area of Alzheimer’s treatment, Blood Clot awareness and treatment, bringing key appropriations projects to our area, and working to protect our quality of life. My children and grandchildren live here too. I want their safety and quality of life, and everyone else’s, to be our greatest accomplishment.
Campaign website: votedeanblack.com
Campaign social media: Facebook | Instagram | X
| NO PARTY AFFILIATION CANDIDATE |
Chadd Charland
Occupation: Freelance arts and culture writer, podcaster, small business owner
Age: 51
Family: Married, no kids
Education: Journalism degree from Auburn University
Political experience: This is my first time running for office. I felt compelled to give people a choice after learning the incumbent was running unopposed.
What do you see as the top three issues in this race, and how do you plan to address them?
Preventing large data center construction in Florida. I helped lead an effort in Nassau County to enact a data center moratorium and intend to take the lessons learned there to the state level, increasing regulations and restrictions on large scale data center construction.
Slowing sprawl and overdevelopment. Rural areas in northeast Florida are being crushed by unwanted sprawl. State government has promoted this proliferation and could reel it back through regulation and a return to home rule.
Public education. I support public money for public schools only. Vouchers are welfare for wealthy people. Parents should be able to send their kids to whatever school they want, but public money should be spent only on public schools.
How can you help voters in a way that others running for this office cannot?
I will advocate for working class people because I am a working class person. My opponent is a millionaire, heavily supported by corporate political action committees, doing the work of corporate donors, not voters. I will fight for working class interests - affordability, public education, clean air and water - for the people of Nassau and Duval counties, against the powerful and corporations who have bought our state government.
What would you hope to be remembered for accomplishing after serving in this office?
Stopping the spread of data centers in Florida.
Campaign website: charlandforflorida.com
Campaign social media: Facebook | Instagram | YouTube
A write-in candidate, Lloyd Caulker, qualified for the general election. The names of write-in candidates do not appear on the ballot, though there will be a line for a write-in.