2016 Volusia County Chair election

2016 Volusia County Chair election

←  2012 August 30, 2016 November 8, 2016 2020  →

Candidate Ed Kelley Jason Davis First round 38,985 47.01% 19,233 23.19% Runoff 129,846 61.92% 79,854 38.08%   Candidate Greg Gimbert Tom Laputka First round 14,110 17.02% 10,596 12.78% Runoff Eliminated Eliminated

County Chair before election Jason Davis Nonpartisan Elected County Chair Ed Kelley Nonpartisan

The 2016 Volusia County Chair election took place on November 8, 2016, following a primary election on August 30, 2016. Incumbent County Chair Jason Davis ran for re-election to a second term, and was challenged by three opponents: Ormond Beach Mayor Ed Kelley, Orange City Mayor Tom Laputka, and activist Greg Gimbert. Though the race was formally nonpartisan, all four candidates were Republicans. ^[1] In the primary election, Kelley placed first by a wide margin, winning 47 percent of the vote. Davis placed second, winning 23 percent of the vote to Gimbert's 17 percent and Laputka's 13 percent.

In the general election, Kelley defeated Davis in a landslide, winning 62 percent of the vote to Davis's 38 percent. ^[2]

Primary election

Candidates

• Ed Kelley, Mayor of Ormond Beach ^[3]
• Jason Davis, incumbent County Chair ^[4]
• Greg Gimbert, beach driving activist ^[5]
• Tom Laptuka, Mayor of Orange City ^[6]

Results

Primary election results ^[7]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Nonpartisan	Ed Kelley	38,985	47.01%
	Nonpartisan	Jason Davis (inc.)	19,233	23.19%
	Nonpartisan	Greg Gimbert	14,110	17.02%
	Nonpartisan	Tom Laputka	10,596	12.78%
Total votes			82,924	100.00%

Runoff election

Results

2016 Volusia County Chair election results ^[8]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Nonpartisan	Ed Kelley	129,846	61.92%
	Nonpartisan	Jason Davis (inc.)	79,854	38.08%
Total votes			209,700	100.00%

References

1. Wyatt, Dustin; Harper, Mark (August 1, 2016). "Volusia chair makes criminal complaint naming GOP boss". The Daytona Beach News-Journal . Daytona Beach, Florida . Retrieved July 17, 2025.
2. Blackwood, Emily (November 9, 2016). "Ed Kelley wins county chair, Dwight Selby and Rob Littleton win City Commission". Palm Coast Observer . Palm Coast, Florida . Retrieved July 17, 2025.
3. Graham, Chris (December 14, 2015). "Ormond mayor files for Volusia chair race". The Daytona Beach News-Journal . Daytona Beach, Florida . Retrieved July 17, 2025.
4. "Volusia County Chair Davis files for re-election". The Daytona Beach News-Journal . Daytona Beach, Florida. February 18, 2015. Retrieved July 17, 2025.
5. Frederick, Henry (May 17, 2016). "Pro-beach driving advocate Greg Gimbert running for Volusia Council chair". Headline Surfer. Lake Mary, Florida . Retrieved July 17, 2025.
6. Graham, Chris (August 26, 2015). "Orange City mayor enters race for Volusia County chair". The Daytona Beach News-Journal . Daytona Beach, Florida . Retrieved July 17, 2025.
7. "Official Primary Election - August 30, 2016" (PDF). Volusia County Supervisor of Elections. September 2, 2016. Retrieved July 7, 2025.
8. "Election Summary Report - Official Results - General Election" (PDF). Volusia County Supervisor of Elections. November 23, 2016. Retrieved July 7, 2025.