John Peyton (U.S. politician)

John Stephens Peyton (born July 28, 1964) is an American businessman and politician. He served as Mayor of Jacksonville, Florida from 2003 to 2011. He was the second Republican to be elected to the position since 1888.

Peyton was succeed as Mayor by Alvin Brown on July 1, 2011. He has announced he will return to work at his family business, Gate Petroleum.

Biography

Peyton's father is Herb Peyton, founder and principal owner of Gate Petroleum, one of the largest privately held companies in the state. They have made a considerable fortune developing, buying and selling land to both the state and federal governments, as well as owning Ponte Vedra Beach Resorts, 225 Gate Gas and convenience stores in the southeastern United States and several other businesses. Prior to his election as mayor, Peyton served as board Chairman for the Jacksonville Transportation Authority; Vice President of Gate and serving as chairman of the Board of Directors for the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra and Greenscape of Jacksonville.

Peyton was born and raised in Jacksonville, graduating from the Bolles School in 1982. He attended Mercer University and earned a bachelor's degree, then graduated from the Harvard Business School Executive Education Program.

A long-time bachelor, Peyton became engaged during his first campaign and married Jacksonville physician Kathryn Pearson on June 1, 2003. St. Augustine Record,...
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