Jay Fant

Fant was born in Jacksonville in 1968 to an established family; the Fant Family first moved to the area in 1920 and started First Guaranty Bank in 1947,The Florida Times-Union by Simon Barker-Benfield, February 25, 1999 "First Guaranty Moving to Mandarin". which his father later ran.{{cite web|url=https://www.jacksonville.com/article/20090330/NEWS/801236988|title='Mr. First Guaranty' has a long history in banks|first=Charlie|last=Patton|website=The Florida Times-Union}} He attended Washington and Lee University, receiving his bachelor's degree in 1990, and then the University of Florida College of Law at the University of Florida, receiving his Juris Doctor in 1994.

Upon graduation in 1994, Fant returned home and was elected to serve on the board of First Guaranty Bank, and he began managing the operations of the company in 2001.{{cite web|url=https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/article/profile-julian-jay-fant-iii|title=Profile: Julian 'Jay' Fant III | Jax Daily Record|date=September 24, 2003|website=Financial News & Daily Record - Jacksonville, Florida}} Fant worked in trust administration and corporate management until 2003, when he was named president and chief executive officer of the bank.Jacksonville Business Journal, May 23–29, 2003 "Weiss gives high marks to First Guaranty Bank". He remained president until 2009 when he was promoted to chairman.{{cite web|url=https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/article/fant-fant-its-family-tradition|title=From Fant to Fant: It's a family tradition | Jax Daily Record|date=March 20, 2009|website=Financial News & Daily Record - Jacksonville, Florida}} In 2010, Fant turned over daily management,{{cite web|url=https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/article/intern-bank-president|title=From intern to bank president | Jax Daily Record|date=July 3, 2008|website=Financial News & Daily Record - Jacksonville, Florida}} and his employment with the bank came to a close in 2012. The bank had performed well earlier in Fant's leadership,Jacksonville Business Journal, May 23–29, 2003 “Weiss gives high marks to First Guaranty Bank"The Florida Times-Union, January 17, 2005, "Area banks get top marks from financial firm" but by 2012, the bank had failed because it had acquired a number of troubled loans and had received a number of poor financial stability ratings from independent firms, and it was in negotiations to be purchased by CertusBank.{{cite web|url=https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/article/first-guaranty-sells-7-8-branches-certusbank|title=First Guaranty sells 7 of 8 branches to CertusBank | Jax Daily Record|date=November 10, 2011|website=Financial News & Daily Record - Jacksonville, Florida}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/print-edition/2011/11/18/first-guaranty-deal-may-be-model-for.html |title= |publisher= |date= |accessdate=2019-11-26}} However, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation stepped in at that point and the bank went into FDIC receivership.{{cite web|url=https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/article/centerstate-bank-reopens-first-guaranty-today|title=CenterState Bank reopens First Guaranty today | Jax Daily Record|date=January 30, 2012|website=Financial News & Daily Record - Jacksonville, Florida}} Fant began working with CenterState, which ended up as the owner of First Guaranty Bank, as a senior legal counsel and on the advisory board.{{cite web|url=http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2012-02-04/story/first-guaranty-sought-survival-until-its-final-day|title=First Guaranty sought survival until its final day|date=February 4, 2012|accessdate=November 29, 2014|work=Florida Times-Union|first=David|last=Bauerlein}}

Fant opposed the federal takeover of mortgage companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in 2008 stating that they would become a long term taxpayer burden.{{cite web|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/stories/2008/09/15/story6.html |title=Story |publisher=www.bizjournals.com |date=2008 |accessdate=2019-11-26}}The Florida Times-Union, Letter to the Editor by Jay Fant, August 3, 2008 "Recent crisis proves America's financial system remains sound" He also opposed the government bailouts of larger banks at the expense of smaller banks like his that did not participate in sub-prime residential lending.{{cite web|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/stories/2009/06/01/story7.html |title=Story |publisher=www.bizjournals.com |date=2009 |accessdate=2019-11-26}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/stories/2008/11/24/story6.html |title=Info |publisher=www.bizjournals.com |date=2008 |accessdate=2019-11-26}}

Fant was active in the Tea Party movement in 2009.{{cite web|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/stories/2009/04/13/daily24.html |title=Story |publisher=www.bizjournals.com |date=2009 |accessdate=2019-11-26}}

Leading up to the 2014 elections, incumbent State Representative Daniel Davis declined to seek a third term in the legislature. In October 2013, Fant announced his candidacy for his seat.{{cite web|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/blog/morning-edition/2013/10/jay-fant-to-run-for-daniel-davis.html |title=Fant to run |publisher=www.bizjournals.com |date=2013 |accessdate=2019-11-26}} He faced attorney Paul Renner in the Republican primary, and both candidates agreed on the need to expand the Port of Jacksonville, to attract jobs to the state, and to provide more school choice to parents. Fant also called for increased assistance and incentives to veterans, noting, "I have a proposal that would encourage vets, when they come back and retire from the military, to start their businesses in Florida, and they'll get some breaks on the licensing fees to do that."{{cite web|url=http://www.news4jax.com/news/veteran-renner-businessman-fant-battle-in-republican-primary/27692910|title=Veteran Renner, businessman Fant battle in Republican primary in Florida House District 15|date=August 26, 2014|accessdate=November 29, 2014|work=WJXT|first=Hailey|last=Winslow|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140824120854/http://www.news4jax.com/news/veteran-renner-businessman-fant-battle-in-republican-primary/27692910|archive-date=August 24, 2014|url-status=live}} During the campaign, Fant incorrectly claimed endorsements from the NRA Political Victory Fund (NRA-PVF) and Florida Right to Life, neither of which had made an endorsement in the primaries, though they gave both candidates "A" ratings. Fant's campaign corrected the video, which the candidate had made during an interview with The Florida Times-Union's editorial board.{{cite web|url=http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2014-08-12/story/house-candidate-jay-fants-campaign-says-it-was-honest-mistake-when-he|title=House candidate Jay Fant's campaign says it was "honest mistake" when he incorrectly touted NRA and Right to Life endorsements|date=August 12, 2014|accessdate=November 29, 2014|work=Florida Times-Union|first=David|last=Bauerlein|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141210152647/http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2014-08-12/story/house-candidate-jay-fants-campaign-says-it-was-honest-mistake-when-he|archive-date=December 10, 2014|url-status=dead}} The NRA-PVF later endorsed Fant in the general election.{{cite web |title=NRA-PVF {{!}} Florida |url=https://www.nrapvf.org/grades/florida/ |publisher=NRA-PVF |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141104210222/https://www.nrapvf.org/grades/florida/ |archive-date=November 4, 2014 |language=en-US |url-status=dead |access-date=May 14, 2024 }}

Ultimately, the primary contest proved to be close and hard-fought,{{cite web|url=https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/article/fant-renner-state-house-race-has-been-ugly-and-expensive|title=Fant, Renner state House race has been ugly and expensive | Jax Daily Record|date=August 22, 2014|website=Financial News & Daily Record - Jacksonville, Florida}} with Fant finishing just three votes ahead of Renner, prompting a manual recount. The recount lowered Fant's margin to just two votes but uncovered no additional errors, and Renner conceded to him.{{cite web|url=http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2014-08-29/story/fant-wins-mere-2-votes-district-15-recount-proof-mantra-goes-your-vote|title=Jay Fant wins by mere 2 votes in District 15 recount, proof as mantra goes, that 'your vote counts'|last=Bauerlein|first=David|date=August 29, 2014|work=Florida Times-Union|accessdate=9 May 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://sunshinestatenews.com/story/jay-fant-holds-paul-renner-two-votes-jacksonville-gop-primary|title=Jay Fant Holds Off Paul Renner by Two Votes in Jacksonville GOP Primary|first=Kevin|last=Derby|date=August 29, 2014|website=Sunshine State News | Florida Political News}}{{cite web|url=https://www.news4jax.com/news/2014/08/30/jay-fant-wins-state-house-primary-by-2-votes/|title=Jay Fant wins state House primary by 2 votes|first=Ashley|last=Harding|website=WJXT|date=30 August 2014}} Renner was elected to the Florida House in another district a few months later.{{cite web|url=https://www.jacksonville.com/article/20150612/NEWS/801247154|title=Tia Mitchell: Fant, Renner once rivals -- now best buds|first=Tia|last=Mitchell|website=The Florida Times-Union}}

In the general election, Fant faced only write-in opposition, and easily won his first term in the legislature with nearly 100% of the vote.

During his tenure, Fant sat on the House Judiciary Committee, Criminal Justice Subcommittee, Finance & Tax Committee, Government Operations Subcommittee, Insurance & Banking Subcommittee, Education Committee, Government Accountability Committee, Government Operations & Technology Appropriations Subcommittee, Justice Appropriations Subcommittee, Local, Federal and Veterans Affairs Subcommittee, Ways and Means Committee and Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee.{{cite web|url=https://myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Representatives/details.aspx?MemberId=4601&LegislativeTermId=86|title=Jay Fant - 2014 - 2016 ( Speaker Crisafulli )|website=myfloridahouse.gov}}{{cite web|url=https://myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Representatives/details.aspx?MemberId=4601&LegislativeTermId=87|title=Jay Fant - 2016 - 2018 ( Speaker Corcoran )|website=myfloridahouse.gov}}

Fant sponsored a bill to improve access to online property especially in the management of wills and estates.{{cite web|url=https://news.wfsu.org/post/bill-seeks-decide-what-happens-digital-life-after-physical-death|title=Bill Seeks To Decide What Happens To A Digital Life After Physical Death|first=Regan|last=McCarthy|website=news.wfsu.org|date=17 March 2015}} It ultimately became law.{{cite web|url=http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?StatuteYear=2018&AppMode=Display_Results&Mode=Search%2520Statutes&Submenu=2&Tab=statutes&Search_String=740|title=Statutes & Constitution :Search Statutes : Online Sunshine|website=www.leg.state.fl.us}} Fant supported the Enterprise Florida and Visit Florida programs.{{cite web|url=https://news.wfsu.org/post/ag-candidate-jay-fant-earns-govs-praise-backing-efi|title=AG Candidate Jay Fant Earns Gov's Praise For Backing EFI|first=Nick|last=Evans|website=news.wfsu.org|date=22 August 2017}} He opposed gun control laws.{{cite web|url=https://tampabay.comundefined/|title=Florida attorney general candidate on Parkland: 'Let's not let this tragedy take away our right to bear arms'|website=Tampa Bay Times}}{{dead link|date=July 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6IG2D2RHk4|title=Florida Lawmaker: 'Gun Bans Don't Work' In Prevent Shootings | MTP Daily | MSNBC|via=www.youtube.com}}{{cite web|url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/politics/os-gun-safety-legislature-20180227-story.html|title=Lawmakers again reject assault-weapons ban as gun bills move to floors|first=Gray|last=Rohrer|website=orlandosentinel.com|date=28 February 2018 }}

In 2017 Fant declared his candidacy for Attorney General in the upcoming election,{{cite web|url=https://miamiherald.typepad.com/nakedpolitics/2017/05/rep-jay-fant-enters-republican-primary-for-attorney-general-.html|title=Rep. Jay Fant enters Republican primary for attorney general | Naked Politics|first=Miami|last=Herald|website=miamiherald.typepad.com}}{{cite web|url=http://thecapitolist.com/sparks-fly-at-federalist-society-attorney-general-debate/|title=Sparks Fly at Federalist Society Attorney General Debate|first=Brian|last=Burgess|date=February 3, 2018|website=The Capitolist}} but he withdrew in June 2018.{{cite web|url=http://floridapolitics.com/archives/266786-jay-fant-leaving-ag-race-applying-for-ofr-commissioner-role|title=Jay Fant exiting Attorney General race, applying for OFR commissioner|work=Florida Politics|last=Gancarski|first=A.G.|date=June 20, 2018|accessdate=July 8, 2018}}

Fant is married and has four children. From 2006 through 2008 Fant led the All Pro Dad Experience in Jacksonville, which sought to strengthen the relationship between fathers and their children.The Florida Times-Union by Brandis Jest, November 2008, "Fathers-and-football event to help fight crime"First Coast News by Joy Purdy, October 15, 2008, "Local Banker Helps Families Bond Through NFL Experience" He also volunteered in Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Northeast Florida.{{cite web|url=https://vimeo.com/103931459|title=Jay Fant - The Dan Griffis Story|website=Vimeo}}

{{reflist}}

• [http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Representatives/details.aspx?MemberId=4601&LegislativeTermId=86 Florida House of Representatives - Jay Fant]
• [http://www.jayfant.com/ Jay Fant for State Representative]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fant, Jay}}

Category:Washington and Lee University alumni

Category:Republican Party members of the Florida House of Representatives

Category:1968 births

Category:Living people

Category:21st-century members of the Florida Legislature