David Nelson Freeman

This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

David Nelson Freeman

Democratic Party

Elections and appointments

Last election

August 20, 2024

Education

Other

Harvard, 2023

Personal

Birthplace

Jacksonville, Fla.

Religion

Christian

Profession

Business owner and president

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Instagram

Personal Instagram

David Nelson Freeman (Democratic Party) ran for election for Orange County Tax Collector in Florida. He lost in the Democratic primary on August 20, 2024.

Nelson completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

David Nelson Freeman was born in Jacksonville, Florida. His career experience includes working as a businessman.

Elections

2024

See also: Municipal elections in Orange County, Florida (2024)

General election

The general election was canceled. Incumbent Scott Randolph won election in the general election for Orange County Tax Collector.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Dennis Spencer Levy (No Party Affiliation)

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Orange County Tax Collector

Incumbent Scott Randolph defeated David Nelson Freeman in the Democratic primary for Orange County Tax Collector on August 20, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Scott Randolph	85.9	59,200
		David Nelson Freeman	14.1	9,685

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 68,885
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Nelson in this election.

2022

See also: Florida gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2022

General election

General election for Governor of Florida

Incumbent Ron DeSantis defeated Charlie Crist, Carmen Gimenez, and Hector Roos in the general election for Governor of Florida on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Ron DeSantis (R)	59.4	4,614,210
		Charlie Crist (D)	40.0	3,106,313
		Carmen Gimenez (No Party Affiliation)	0.4	31,577
		Hector Roos (L)	0.2	19,299

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 7,771,399
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Kyle Gibson (No Party Affiliation)
• Frank Hughes Jr. (No Party Affiliation)
• Piotr Blass (No Party Affiliation)
• Jodi Jeloudov (No Party Affiliation)
• James Thompson (No Party Affiliation)
• Mark Graham (Unity Party)

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Governor of Florida

Charlie Crist defeated Nikki Fried, Cadance Daniel, and Robert Willis in the Democratic primary for Governor of Florida on August 23, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Charlie Crist	59.7	904,524
		Nikki Fried	35.3	535,480
		Cadance Daniel	2.5	38,198
		Robert Willis	2.4	36,786

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,514,988
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Richard Dembinsky (D)
• David Nelson Freeman (D)
• Njällssen Amaro Lionheart (D)
• Annette Taddeo (D)
• Alex Lundmark (D)

Republican primary election

The Republican primary election was canceled. Incumbent Ron DeSantis advanced from the Republican primary for Governor of Florida.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• John Joseph Mercadante (R)

Libertarian primary election

The Libertarian primary election was canceled. Hector Roos advanced from the Libertarian primary for Governor of Florida.

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

David Nelson Freeman completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Nelson's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am a businessman the left the auto racing industry in 2019 and am now the CEO of a non-alcoholic beverage company trademarked in 51 countries. Success comes from hard work and honesty, both traits needed but often overlooked in politics.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• As Tax Collector, I would manage seven DMV offices in Orange County, Florida. For the past twelve years, my opponent has delved in potential “pay-to-play” antics with signing contracts with his top political donors, including one mega-donor being a former employee. I would investigate how these contracts came to fruition.
• Take the fear out of going to our local DMV offices.
• Bring integrity, honesty and accountability back to the Orange County Tax Collector’s Office.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Respect to people that need DMV services and are receiving mediocre services and paying top dollar.

What qualities does this office possess that makes it a unique and important part of the state government and legal system?

Collecting property, vehicular, marine, and other taxes for the county.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

Barack Obama, he destroyed al stereo-types of whom and whom not should be president and did a wonderful job!

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

No, since all political races and candidates fall under different situations that would require different reading.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Never forget one’s constituents. Integrity to the elected office. Not auction contracts to the highest bidder (donors).

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

Integrity, honesty and a great business sense and great customer service history.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

Integrity, honesty, responsibility and overall customer service and satisfaction.

What legacy would you like to leave?

A better DMV.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

The presidency of Barack Obama. I was about 43.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

Washing cars from age 13 until age 17.

What is your favorite book? Why?

Dianetics, the only human brain manual.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

Robin Hood

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

Rappers Delight

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

Watching the Orange County Tax Collector’s Office be used for personal gain by the current Tax Collector, and forgetting the constituents of the county.

Are there any little-known powers or responsibilities held by this office that you believe more people should be aware of?

Yes, the power to sign contracts that are tied to the office. These contracts under the current Tax Collector have been of very shady reasons. One example was the shutting-down of a DMV office run by the Tax Collector’s Office in Apopka, Florida, forcing Apopka residents to drive many miles away to the open a private DMV to of of two of the highest donors to the current Tax Collector. A real shame!

Do you believe that it's beneficial for holders of this office to have previous experience in government or politics?

No, I believe business experience is primordial to this office.

What kind of skills or expertise do you believe would be the most helpful for the holders of this office to possess?

Business experience.

Tell us your favorite joke.

Two Tomatoes crossing the street….one says to the other “watch out”, SPLAT! The other says “what”? SPLAT!!!

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

An elected official should be 100% of integrity and accountability to his or her elected office and constituents. This is not happening today with the current Orange County Tax Collector.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

2022

David Nelson Freeman completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2021. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Nelson's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Under what circumstances should the governor of your state be able to use emergency powers?

Under possible catastrophic results from emergencies that are beyond the normal control of state law enforcement and/or to protect the health and safety of it’s citizens.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

Note: Nelson submitted the above survey responses to Ballotpedia on April 10, 2021.

Show past responsesHide past responses

February 15 submission

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Criminal Justice Reform by way of keeping our justice system open minded to minimizing incarceration of non-violent first offenders and offering second chances to repeat offenders. Education and school improvements and retention of our educators by rewarding them with better salaries and work environment and resources. Healthcare improvements in making clinics accessible to our citizens rather than a hospital visit for minor and non-emergency healthcare needs. Public safety improvements in having more dialogue with law enforcement leaders.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

I look up to Barack Obama, I believe he is the greatest politician and mentor that has become president. I would like to follow his example as a great leader and fair to all citizens.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

Soul of a Democrat by Thomas B. Reston

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Honesty, transparency and the ability to be fair to all citizens.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

To maintain proper economical prosperity, education, healthcare and safety of it’s citizens.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

The Mariel boat lift in 1980, I was about 15 years old.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

My first job was delivering newspapers for The Washington Post in Maryland as a teenager and lasted for about 5 years.

What is your favorite book? Why?

Soul of a Democrat, it is an inspiring and truthful book about the democratic party.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

WOW by Post Malone

A governor is the top executive authority in his or her state. What does that mean do you?

It means that decisions should be made in facts, evidence and in the best interest for both the state and it’s citizens.

Governors have many responsibilities, which vary from state to state. Which of those do you personally consider the most important in your state?

The most important to me is the ability to get legislators together in dialogue to pass laws and regulations to better life and environment for our citizens.

Different states require governors to have different degrees of responsibility for the state budgeting process. If it were your choice, what do you believe is the appropriate degree of gubernatorial involvement with this process in your state?

The involvement and input of proper economists and officials from state, county and local municipalities to work on a budget that can be approved by the governor and not solely become a unilateral decision by the governor.

In most states, governors have the power to make line-item vetoes. If that is true in your state, what would be your philosophy for how and when to use this power?

Only when the veto directly affects a poor decision made that would jeopardize the state or it’s citizens.

What do you love most about your state?

It’s diversity and all the natural beauty.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

Note: Nelson submitted the above survey responses to Ballotpedia on February 15, 2021.

See also

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Candidate

Orange County Tax Collector

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