E. Denise Lee

E. Denise Lee
Member of the Jacksonville City Council from the 8th district
In office
July 1, 2007 – June 30, 2015
Preceded byGwen Yates
Succeeded byKatrina Brown
Member of the Florida House of Representatives from the 15th district
In office
November 2, 1999 – November 5, 2002
Preceded byWillye Dennis
Succeeded byAudrey Gibson
Member of the Jacksonville City Council
In office
September 28, 1982 – June 30, 1999
Preceded bySallye Mathis
Succeeded byGwen Yates
Constituency11th district (1982–1983)
8th district (1983–1999)
Personal details
Born(1952-06-30)June 30, 1952
Jacksonville, Florida
DiedAugust 29, 2023(2023-08-29) (aged 71)
Jacksonville, Florida
PartyDemocratic
Children1
EducationFlorida A&M University
OccupationConsultant

Evelyn Denise Lee (June 30, 1952 – August 29, 2023) was a Democratic politician from Florida who served as a member of the Florida House of Representatives from the 15th district from 1999 to 2002. She served as a member of the Jacksonville City Council from 1982 to 1999 and from 2007 to 2015.

Early life

Lee was born in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1952, and attended Florida A&M University.[1] While a student, she was involved in the Florida Democratic Party and worked on several state and local campaigns.[2] She worked as an account clerk for the Florida Department of Legal Affairs and as a referral coordinator for the Private Industry Council of Jacksonville, a program that helped low-income residents find private-sector jobs.[3][4]

Jacksonville City Council

In 1982, City Councilwoman Sallye Mathis, who represented the 11th district on the Jacksonville City Council died, and Lee applied to serve out the remaining months of her term. The Rules Committee voted to recommend her nomination to the full council, but the process was delayed amid "infighting."[5] Several members of the City Council sought to advance the nomination of another candidate, and requested that the nomination be sent back to the Rules Committee, but eventually relented in favor of Lee, who was sworn in on September 27, 1982.[4]

Lee ran for a full term in 1983 from the 8th district, and was challenged in the Democratic primary by the Reverend R. B. Holmes, the president of the Jacksonville chapter of the NAACP.[6] Lee placed first in the primary, but did not win a majority, and proceeded to a runoff with Holmes, which she won by a wide margin. In the general election, she faced only a write-in candidate,[7] and won the election in a landslide.[8]

In 1987, Lee ran for re-election, and was challenged by Charles Spencer, a local union leader.[9] She won the Democratic primary in a landslide, receiving 70 percent of the vote,[10] and was unopposed in the general election.[11]

Lee ran for a third full term in 1991, and was challenged in the Democratic primary by teacher Henry Sellers.[12] She won re-election overwhelmingly, receiving 77 percent of the vote in the primary,[13] and again faced no opponent in the general election.[14]

In 1995, Lee ran for re-election, and was challenged by Democrats Omega Allen and Catherine Barney-Newman, both of whom criticized her as an ineffective member of the council.[15] Lee defeated both by a wide margin, receiving 70 percent of the vote.[16][17]

Lee was unable to seek another term in 1999. In 1991, voters enacted term limits that came into effect in 1999.[18]

Florida House of Representatives

After leaving the City Council, Lee filed to run for the Florida House of Representatives from the 15th district, seeking to succeed term-limited State Representative Willye Dennis in 2000.[19]

However, after Dennis pleaded guilty to federal fraud charges and she resigned,[20] a special election was held for the final year of her term. Lee ran in the special election,[21] and faced former mayoral aide Alton Yates, tree surgeon Iris Hinton, and consultant Nita Bell in the Democratic primary.[22] She easily won the Democratic primary, receiving 64 percent of the vote,[23] In the general election, she defeated Republican Lawrence Jefferson with 77 percent of the vote.[24]

Lee ran for re-election to a full term in 2000, and was re-elected unopposed.[25]

2002 State Senate campaign

In 2002, State Senator Betty Holzendorf was term-limited and unable to seek re-election. Former State Representative Tony Hill was the frontrunner to succeed her, but Lee ran against him, straining her political alliance with Holzendorf and Congresswoman Corinne Brown, both of whom endorsed Hill.[26] Hill defeated Lee by a wide margin, receiving 61 percent of the vote to her 39 percent.[27][28]

Return to the City Council

In 2007, Lee announced that she would seek to return to the Jacksonville City Council, and ran to reclaim her seat in the 8th district.[29] Incumbent City Councilwoman Gwen Yates, who succeeded Lee in 1999, was term-limited. Lee won the election in a landslide, defeating Sheriff's office employee Jerome Spates and constant Rebecca Balkcom Zeigler.[30]

Lee was re-elected without opposition in 2011.[31] She was term-limited in 2015.[32]

After leaving office, Lee joined the administration of Lenny Curry, the newly elected Mayor, and oversaw the city's response to blight.[33][34]

Death

Lee died on August 29, 2023.[34]

References

  1. ↑ "E. Denise Lee". Florida House of Representatives. 2002. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
  2. ↑ "E. Denise Lee". Jacksonville City Council. 2024. Archived from the original on May 22, 2024. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
  3. ↑ Boyette, John (August 28, 1982). "19 apply for Mrs. Mathis' seat; interviews set for Sept. 9". Times-Union and Journal. Jacksonville, Florida. p. A-4. Retrieved July 18, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. 1 2 Boyette, John (September 29, 1982). "Miss Lee wins seat; water-district veto fails". Florida Times-Union. Jacksonville, Florida. p. B-1. Retrieved July 18, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ Bronikowski, Lynn (September 15, 1982). "Infighting' blamed for council seat delay". Jacksonville Journal. Jacksonville, Florida. p. 1A. Retrieved July 18, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ↑ Huard, Ray (March 1, 1983). "Local NAACP chief, former senator seek council seats". Florida Times-Union. Jacksonville, Florida. p. B-1. Retrieved July 18, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ↑ Halton, Beau (May 4, 1983). "Denise Lee will look at neighborhood first". Jacksonville Journal. p. 1A. Retrieved July 18, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ↑ Starbuck Plant, Jamie (May 25, 1983). "Republican Holtsinger wins council seat". Florida Times-Union. p. A-1, A-4. Retrieved July 18, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ↑ "Union leader launches bid for City Council". Florida Times-Union. Jacksonville, Florida. January 29, 1987. p. B-4. Retrieved July 18, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ↑ "First Primary Election - City of Jacksonville Duval County, Florida April, 14, 1987" (PDF). Duval County Supervisor of Elections. April 15, 1987. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 11, 2016. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
  11. ↑ Bhatta, Valerie (April 15, 1987). "Johnson, Davis may face runoff; Carlucci wins". Florida Times-Union. Jacksonville, Florida. p. A-8. Retrieved July 18, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ↑ Kerr, Jessie-Lynne (February 20, 1991). "District 8 ripe for recreation, shops". Florida Times-Union: Northside/Nassau Community News. Jacksonville, Florida. p. 1. Retrieved July 18, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ↑ "First Primary Election - City of Jacksonville Duval County, Florida April 9, 1991". Duval County Supervisor of Elections. April 10, 1991. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
  14. ↑ Foley, Bill (April 10, 1991). "Three veterans' defeats may roll council to biggest change since '68". Florida Times-Union. Jacksonville, Florida. p. A-1. Retrieved July 18, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ↑ De Bruce, Orlando (April 4, 1995). "2 challenge Lee for Council seat". Florida Times-Union. Jacksonville, Florida. p. B-1. Retrieved July 18, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ↑ "First Primary Election - City of Jacksonville Duval County, Florida April 9, 1991". Duval County Supervisor of Elections. April 10, 1991. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
  17. ↑ De Bruce, Orlando (April 12, 1995). "Lee wins fourth term over two challengers". Florida Times-Union. Jacksonville, Florida. p. A-9. Retrieved July 18, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ↑ Rivedal, Karen (January 3, 1999). "A seismic shift ahead for council". Florida Times-Union. Jacksonville, Florida. p. A-1. Retrieved July 18, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ↑ Rivedal, Karen (June 30, 1999). "Legacy may not be known for years". Florida Times-Union. Jacksonville, Florida. p. A-1, A-9. Retrieved July 18, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ↑ Halton, Beau (July 16, 1999). "Dennis pleads guilty". Florida Times-Union. Jacksonville, Florida. p. A-1. Retrieved July 18, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ↑ "Duval Democrats express interest in Dennis' seat". Florida Times-Union. Jacksonville, Florida. July 22, 1999. p. B-3. Retrieved July 18, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. ↑ Saunders, Jim (September 11, 1999). "5 in the running to replace Dennis". Florida Times-Union. Jacksonville, Florida. p. B-1. Retrieved July 18, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. ↑ "September 28, 1999 Special Election House 15 Democratic Primary". Florida Department of Elections. 1999. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
  24. ↑ "November 2, 1999 Special General Election House 15 & 82". Florida Department of Elections. 1999. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
  25. ↑ "20 state lawmakers unopposed". Pensacola News Journal. July 22, 2000. p. 5C. Retrieved July 18, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  26. ↑ Pinzur, Matthew I. (August 11, 2002). "The political split in black Jacksonville". Florida Times-Union. Jacksonville, Florida. p. A-1. Retrieved July 18, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  27. ↑ "September 10, 2002 Primary Election Democratic Primary - State Senator District: 1". Florida Department of Elections. 2002. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
  28. ↑ Patterson, Steve (September 11, 2002). "Hill credits support for apparent victory". Florida Times-Union. Jacksonville, Florida. p. A-1. Retrieved July 18, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  29. ↑ "Duval sheriff gains 2 opposers". Florida Times-Union. Jacksonville, Florida. February 3, 2007. p. B-2. Retrieved July 18, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  30. ↑ Kormanik, Beth (March 21, 2007). "Early returns put Lee ahead in bid to reclaim District 8". Florida Times-Union. Jacksonville, Florida. p. A-8. Retrieved July 18, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  31. ↑ Galnor, Matt (January 15, 2011). "6 in race for mayor; 5 on council get easy walk". Florida Times-Union. Jacksonville, Florida. p. B-2. Retrieved July 18, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  32. ↑ Pantazi, Andrew (May 8, 2015). "Experience faces new blood in District 8 race". Florida Times-Union. Jacksonville, Florida. p. B-1. Retrieved July 18, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  33. ↑ Hong, Christopher (January 3, 2016). "Does this look like blight? A developer says it does; it wants a large swath of Northside land declared so by the city so it could reap tax money in the future". Florida Times-Union. Jacksonville, Florida. p. A-1, A-4. Retrieved July 18, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  34. 1 2 Patterson, Steve (September 1, 2023). "Former City Councilmember Lee dies at 71". Florida Times-Union. Jacksonville, Florida. p. 1A, 4A. Retrieved July 18, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
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