The 2012 Volusia County Chair election was held on November 6, 2012, following a primary election on August 14, 2012, to elect the Volusia County chair. Incumbent County Chair Frank Bruno was term-limited and could not seek a third consecutive term. Three candidates ran to succeed him: County Councilman Carl Persis, U.S. Army veteran Jason Davis, and school board attorney Ted Doran. Though the race was formally non-partisan, Persis and Doran were Democrats and Davis was a Republican.[1] In the primary election, Persis placed first, winning 40 percent of the vote. Davis defeated Doran, 33–27 percent, for second place, and advanced to the general election against Persis.
In the general election, Persis emerged as the frontrunner, though he faced an investigation by the Florida Elections Commission for receiving campaign contributions in excess of the legal limits.[2] In the general election, Davis defeated Persis in an upset victory, winning 55 percent of the vote to Persis's 45 percent.[1]
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