Jim Davis (politician)

Infobox_Congressman
name = Jim Davis


date of birth = birth date and age|1957|10|11
place of birth = Tampa, Florida
state = Florida
district = 11th
term = 1997–2007
preceded = Sam Gibbons
succeeded = Kathy Castor
party = Democrat
religion = Episcopalian
spouse = Peggy Bessent
alma_mater=Washington and Lee University, University of Florida
occupation=attorney
residence=Tampa, Florida

James Oscar "Jim" Davis III (born October 11, 1957) is an American politician from the U.S. state of Florida. He is a Democrat and served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1997 to 2007, representing Florida's 11th district. He was the Democratic nominee for governor of Florida in the 2006 election, but was defeated by Republican Charlie Crist.

Early life and education

Davis was born in Tampa, Florida. He graduated from Jesuit High School of Tampa in 1975, and attended Washington and Lee University, where he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1979. He later attended the University of Florida's College of Law, received his Juris Doctor law degree in 1982. He later credited his grandfather as an important influence on his life.

Career

Davis worked as a lawyer in private practice from 1982 to 1988, when he became a partner in the Tampa-based business law firm of Bush, Ross, Gardner, Warren & Rudy. Davis was elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 1989 and served until 1996, serving as House Majority Leader from 1995 to 1996.

Davis is one of the co-chairs of the New Democrat Coalition in the House of Representatives. The New Democrat Coalition is affiliated with the centrist Democratic Leadership Council.

On October 10, 2002, Jim Davis was among the 81 House Democrats who voted in favor of authorizing the invasion of Iraq.

Davis announced his candidacy for governor of Florida in 2005 and won the Democratic primary held on September 5, 2006. He defeated then-state Senator Rod Smith by a margin of 46 percent to 42 percent.

He received the endorsements of former U.S. President Bill Clinton, U.S. senator for Florida Bill Nelson, U.S. senator for Illinois Barack Obama, former Governor and U.S. Senator Bob Graham, former Governor Buddy MacKay, former First Lady Rhea Chiles (wife of Lawton Chiles), former Tallahassee mayor and Florida Democratic Party chairman Scott Maddox, Miami-Dade Democratic Party chairman Jimmy Morales, and Representatives Alcee Hastings, Robert Wexler, Corrine Brown, and Debbie Wasserman Schultz.

As of 2007, Davis is employed at Holland & Knight in Tampa. There has been some speculation in the media about his potential to challenge U.S. Senator Mel Martinez (|R-FL) in the 2010 election, or to run for Mayor of Tampa in 2011.Fact|date=October 2008

Election results

2006 election:

2002 election:

Davis ran unopposed.

2000 election:

Personal life

Davis's wife is Peggy Bessent Davis. The couple have two children, Peter and William. He is a member of the Episcopal Church.

External links

*CongBio|D000114
* [http://www.vote-smart.org/bio.php?can_id=BC040237 Biography] from Project Vote Smart
* [http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/members/d000114/ Voting record maintained by the Washington Post]