James Holton is the owner and President of Holton Companies, a group of Florida-based real estate development and investment entities. Mr. Holton is also a successful lawyer and a well-known fundraiser for numerous public causes.

Mr. Holton was appointed by Governor Jeb Bush and confirmed by the Florida Senate to the Florida Transportation Commission and served as its Chairman from 2005 to 2007. As Chairman, Mr. Holton was praised by the Governor for providing leadership in addressing Florida’s pressing transportation needs and maintaining strict public accountability for the Department of Transportation.

Mr. Holton also served as a Director for Enterprise Florida Inc. (EFI) from 2005 to 2009. He was appointed by Speaker Allan Bense. EFI is a public-private partnership serving as Florida’s primary organization devoted to statewide economic development. Mr. Holton worked extensively with the Florida Congressional Delegation, other Members of Congress, and numerous State and business leaders on a variety of issues, including infrastructure, defense, banking and finance.

Governor Rick Scott appointed Mr. Holton to the Board of Governors of Citizens Property Insurance Corporation for a term ending July 31^st, 2017. Citizens is the state-backed wind and property insurance company of last resort for many Florida home owners and businesses. Mr. Holton has been recently re-appointed to the Citizens Board of Governors for term ending July 7^th, 2020.

Additionally, Mr. Holton was appointed to the Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority (TBARTA) by Governor Rick Scott for term ending September 20^th, 2018. TBARTA was recently changed by an act of the Florida Legislature in 2017. Subsequently, Governor Rick Scott appointed Mr. Holton Chairman of the newly constituted Tampa Bay Area Regional Transit Authority, known as TBARTA, for term ending August 15^th, 2019.

Mr. Holton graduated from Stanford University in 1976 with an A.B. in philosophy. He received his J.D. from Boston University in 1981, and his L.L.M from Boston University in 1982. He resides in Indian Shores, Florida. He has served as a board member at the University of South Florida’s Center for Urban Transportation Research and the Pinellas County’s Police Athletic League. He was appointed by County Commissioner John Morroni to serve on the Pinellas County Economic Development Council. Nationally, he is Chairman of the Board for the Drug Free America Foundation, and currently serves on several local civic and charitable boards.