GREEN COVE SPRINGS – Although his name remained on the ballot for weeks following his appointment as the new Superintendent of Schools in Hillsborough County, Addison Davis, is not running for a second term in Clay County.

“I’m not running for the position,” Davis said. “My name should have been removed.”

Davis wasn’t secretly waiting to run nor is he planning the most opportune time to remove his name from the race. How, though, is his name still attached to the race?

“He emailed me on the eighth of last month and said, ‘please withdraw my name from the superintendent school race,’” said Supervisor of Elections Chris Chambless. “I responded and said, ‘I will need a simple signed letter stating you wish to withdraw.’”

Chambless said he hasn’t yet received that letter which is the only reason Davis’ name was still in the race. As of Tuesday, Davis’ name has been withdrawn for the primary ballot in August.

While it’s clear he won’t be running for the job, there remains a question about the $44,311 in contributions Davis has collected for a race he’s no longer in. Chambless said that’s where things get more complicated.

“He’ll need to return his monies to each and every individual person that contributed to his campaign,” Chambless said.

There are a few options with how that could work: Davis can give his funds to a 501(c)(3) of his choice. If he doesn’t wish to do that, he can prorate the money back to the original designees.

Davis spent about $20,000. That leaves about $24,000 in his campaign war chest that could be prorated back to the donors.

Davis would be allowed to re-coop personal money he spent on his campaign. If Davis contributed $3,000 of his own money, he’d be allowed to recover all of that money before prorating the balance to other donors.

“Let’s say a candidate loaned himself money,” Chambless said. “He or she would be allowed to refund that loan to himself or herself and then [prorate] the remaining money.”

Chambless said this money can’t be transferred to a different candidate, so don’t expect another candidate in the race to suddenly receive $24,000.