John Peyton (US politician)
Encyclopedia
John Stephens Peyton is an American
businessman and politician. He served as Mayor of Jacksonville, Florida
from 2003 to 2011. He was the second Republican
to be elected to the position since 1888.
Peyton was succeed as Mayor by Alvin Brown
on July 1, 2011. He has announced he will return to work at his family business, Gate Petroleum
.
, founder and principal owner of Gate Petroleum
, one of the largest privately held companies in the state. They have made a considerable fortune developing, buying and selling land to both the state and federal governments, as well as owning Ponte Vedra Inn and Club
and other clubs and resorts, 225 Gate Gas and convenience stores in the southeastern United States, and several other businesses. Prior to his election as mayor, Peyton served as board Chairman for the Jacksonville Transportation Authority
; Vice President of Gate and serving as chairman of the Board of Directors for the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra
and Greenscape of Jacksonville.
Peyton was born and raised in Jacksonville, graduating from the Bolles School
in 1982. He attended Mercer University
and earned a bachelor's degree, then graduated from the Harvard Business School
Executive Education Program.
A long-time bachelor, Peyton became engaged during his first campaign and married Jacksonville physician Kathryn Pearson on June 1, 2003. They have two sons, John Conner, born in 2005, and Kent Thomas, born in 2007
. In 2007, Peyton defeated community activist Jackie Brown by a margin over 50% to win a second term. Priorities include solidification of the River Accord, Seeds of Change, and his popular early literacy program RALLY Jacksonville!, aimed at educating four-year-olds.
took office as the city's first African-American mayor. In a January 9, 2009 interview in the Financial News & Daily Record, Peyton was asked about his plans for 2011 when his term ends. He responded:
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
businessman and politician. He served as Mayor of Jacksonville, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
from 2003 to 2011. He was the second Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
to be elected to the position since 1888.
Peyton was succeed as Mayor by Alvin Brown
Alvin Brown (politician)
Alvin Brown is an American politician who is currently Mayor of Jacksonville, Florida. The first African American elected to the position, he succeeded John Peyton on July 1, 2011. He is a member of the Democratic Party.-Life and career:...
on July 1, 2011. He has announced he will return to work at his family business, Gate Petroleum
Gate Petroleum
Gate Petroleum is a privately held diversified corporation headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, the 11th largest in Florida in 2010. In FY 2008, the company ranked #338 on the Forbes list of America's Largest Private Companies...
.
Biography
Peyton's father is Herb PeytonHerb Peyton
Herbert Hill "Herb" Peyton is an American entrepreneur and founder of Gate Petroleum in Jacksonville, Florida, which had sales of $1.44 billion in 2008...
, founder and principal owner of Gate Petroleum
Gate Petroleum
Gate Petroleum is a privately held diversified corporation headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, the 11th largest in Florida in 2010. In FY 2008, the company ranked #338 on the Forbes list of America's Largest Private Companies...
, one of the largest privately held companies in the state. They have made a considerable fortune developing, buying and selling land to both the state and federal governments, as well as owning Ponte Vedra Inn and Club
Ponte Vedra Inn and Club
The Ponte Vedra Inn & Club, located at Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, is a AAA Five Diamond Award resort and the first country club at Ponte Vedra. The 9th hole on the Ocean course has the distinction of having the first island green ever built.-History:...
and other clubs and resorts, 225 Gate Gas and convenience stores in the southeastern United States, and several other businesses. Prior to his election as mayor, Peyton served as board Chairman for the Jacksonville Transportation Authority
Jacksonville Transportation Authority
The Jacksonville Transportation Authority is the independent agency responsible for public transit in the city of Jacksonville, Florida, and roadway infrastructure that connects northeast Florida. However, they do not maintain any roadways.-History:...
; Vice President of Gate and serving as chairman of the Board of Directors for the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra
Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra
The Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Jacksonville, Florida. Widely recognized for its high artistic quality, the JSO ranks among the nation’s top 30 to 40 orchestras in terms of number of performances and population served...
and Greenscape of Jacksonville.
Peyton was born and raised in Jacksonville, graduating from the Bolles School
Bolles School
The Bolles School is a private college preparatory day and boarding school in Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. It has a lower school , a middle school, and a high school, spread across four campuses around the Jacksonville area, and enrolls about 1,800 students a year. The school was founded in 1933 as...
in 1982. He attended Mercer University
Mercer University
Mercer University is an independent, private, coeducational university with a Baptist heritage located in the U.S. state of Georgia. Mercer is the only university of its size in the United States that offers programs in eleven diversified fields of study: liberal arts, business, education, music,...
and earned a bachelor's degree, then graduated from the Harvard Business School
Harvard Business School
Harvard Business School is the graduate business school of Harvard University in Boston, Massachusetts, United States and is widely recognized as one of the top business schools in the world. The school offers the world's largest full-time MBA program, doctoral programs, and many executive...
Executive Education Program.
A long-time bachelor, Peyton became engaged during his first campaign and married Jacksonville physician Kathryn Pearson on June 1, 2003. They have two sons, John Conner, born in 2005, and Kent Thomas, born in 2007
Mayor of Jacksonville
Peyton was elected mayor of Jacksonville in 2003. Elected at 38, Peyton was one of the youngest mayors serving a major city in Florida at the time. Peyton survived a crowded Republican primary and defeated the county's Democratic sheriff, Nat Glover, for the seat in a race that was the most expensive in Jacksonville history. He took office in 2003, succeeding John DelaneyJohn Delaney
John Adrian Delaney is an American lawyer, politician and university administrator. He currently serves as the president of the University of North Florida. A member of the Republican Party, he served as mayor of Jacksonville, Florida from 1995 to 2003...
. In 2007, Peyton defeated community activist Jackie Brown by a margin over 50% to win a second term. Priorities include solidification of the River Accord, Seeds of Change, and his popular early literacy program RALLY Jacksonville!, aimed at educating four-year-olds.
Future plans
Peyton's term of office ended on July 1, 2011, when Alvin BrownAlvin Brown (politician)
Alvin Brown is an American politician who is currently Mayor of Jacksonville, Florida. The first African American elected to the position, he succeeded John Peyton on July 1, 2011. He is a member of the Democratic Party.-Life and career:...
took office as the city's first African-American mayor. In a January 9, 2009 interview in the Financial News & Daily Record, Peyton was asked about his plans for 2011 when his term ends. He responded: