Chadd Charland, a Fernandina Beach resident running with no party affiliation, is certified for the Nov. 3 general election for Florida House District 15. He faces Dean Black, a Republican.

Asked why he is running, Charland said in our candidate questionnaire: "When I learned the incumbent would be running unopposed, I felt compelled to step forward and give voters a choice … I support public schools and public school students and teachers. I am an ardent advocate on behalf of conservation and protecting rural, natural, and wild Florida. I am pro worker."

Candidate information

Age: 51

Party affiliation: "I am a non-party affiliated candidate. I have never been a registered member of any political party. I believe people should come first in politics and government, not party allegiance."

Family: "I live with my wife of 14 years, Kristi Dosh, four cats - you read that right - and a German shepherd. My mom lives next door and my in-laws are a mile away."

Education: "I am a proud public school graduate. I have a journalism degree from Auburn University."

Occupation and work history: "I moved to Fernandina Beach with my wife in 2012. For the first nine years I lived here, I worked at 1010 XL, the sports radio station in Jacksonville. My career was in sports radio until leaving the profession to become a freelance arts and travel writer in 2021. Working for myself provides me the time with which to campaign."

Previous elected office: "I have never run for office before, and never held ambitions to do so, until learning earlier this year that no one was on the horizon to challenge the incumbent."

Experience and public service

Charland has been a speaker and advocate with the Florida Native Plant Society, according to Action News Jax.

Asked about accomplishments that qualify him for office, Charland said in our questionnaire: "I worked with the North Florida Land Trust to protect Little NaNa Dune from development. I assisted the effort to prevent an ethanol plant from being built in Fernandina Beach. I worked with community members to pressure the County Commission to enact a data center moratorium … I spearheaded a local effort to raise awareness to the dangers of Flock mass surveillance cameras which helped lead to them being removed."

On the issues

Data centers: Asked what role the Legislature should play, Charland said in our questionnaire: "The legislature should lead by enacting strict regulations, limitations, and restrictions on the construction of large scale data centers state wide in support of the local communities which have already done the same."

He said those regulations should cover a range of concerns: "Water consumption and discharge, energy production, noise and heat pollution, buffers from housing and schools, the prohibition of non-disclosure agreements between governmental officials and developers, and prohibition of tax breaks from data center developers."

Sprawl and development: Asked what issues he hears most from neighbors, Charland said in our questionnaire: "The Number 1 issue in west Nassau is data centers … People from Nassau County, and those who have moved here, love the area for its rural character and natural beauty. Those attributes are being eroded daily by rapacious developers. Nassau County residents want less sprawl, less development."

Key differences from opponent: "I support public education, my opponent is an architect of Florida's private school voucher scheme that steals money from public school teachers and students. I am pro worker, my opponent is one of Florida's top union busters. …"

Charland also cited differences on racial justice and campaign funding.

Endorsements: The Jacksonville chapter of the National Organization for Women and the Florida Education Association have endorsed Charland, according to News4JAX. The AFL-CIO has also endorsed him, according to BallotReady.

The general election is Nov. 3, 2026.