Chadd Charland
Non-Party Affiliated Candidate for Florida House, District 15
Florida – especially North Florida – has always been a part of my life.
My connection goes back decades. My dad’s parents retired to White Springs in the 70s and I remember visiting there from Wisconsin as a child. I remember the alligators at Okefenokee. I remember glass bottom boats at Silver Spring. I remember tubing down the Ichetucknee. Those early experiences shaped my appreciation for this region’s natural beauty.
I first came to Fernandina Beach in 2005 while I was working at ESPN in Connecticut. I was immediately struck by the landscape – the beaches and salt marshes and live oak trees. Even then, I thought this might be a place to call home someday.
That day came in 2012 when my wife and I moved to Fernandina Beach from Atlanta. She had been vacationing on Amelia Island her whole life. My new job as program director at 1010XL sports radio in Jacksonville allowed us to move here. We were fortunate to settle here at a time when working families could still afford to buy a home and put down roots.
My media career began with a journalism degree from Auburn University when higher education was more accessible. Affordable. My twin brother went to Florida State at the same time.
That education has led to a 30-plus year career in media along with writing business innovation. Along the way, I developed skills that matter in public service: how to communicate, how to ask good questions, how to listen carefully, and truly hear people.
Today, I co-host the “Welcome to Florida” podcast where more than 300 episodes have deepened my understanding about the state.
Living in Fernandina Beach and working in Jacksonville led me to become actively involved in conservation efforts across North Florida:
- I am the Conservation Chair for the local chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society and sit on the organization’s statewide Policy Committee which closely monitors the state legislature from a conservation perspective.
- I have assisted in community native plant garden’s at Eagen’s Creek Park in Fernandina Beach and Eartha’s Farm & Market in Jacksonville.
- I was on the “Amelia Forever” team with the North Florida Land Trust that helped conserve Little Nana Dune on American Beach.
- I was and am active in the effort to keep Rayonier’s ethanol plant out of Fernandina Beach
- I introduced the idea of a data center moratorium to Nassau County Commissioners in September of 2025.
Protecting our environment remains a core priority, but it’s not the only one.
When Ahmaud Arbery was lynched in 2020 I realized the struggle for civil rights was not over. I dedicated the rest of my life to social justice. My passion for a more equitable society has broadened my focus to include public education, economic opportunity, and the protection of democratic institutions.
I am running because democracy requires participation. I never set out to be a candidate, but when I saw that this race would go unchallenged, I felt compelled to step forward.
This campaign is about building a stronger North Florida, one that protects its natural resources, supports working families, invests in public schools, respects individual freedom and ensures that government serves the people.
I can’t do that alone. I need your support – your voice, your vote, and your engagement. Together, we can shape a future for Florida that reflects our shared values and secures opportunity for future generations.