NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- The days in 2013 are already slipping by as resolutions follow. We’re all getting back to the normal rush of life as the holidays get packaged up for next year, exchanged for something better, or put to the curb.
EDGEWATER -- This gun control issue has me in a quandary. While I myself do not currently own a firearm, I have considered buying one and learning how to shoot it.
Videos produced by Multimedia Editor Serafina Frederick / Volusia County Chair Jason Davis sat down with Headline Surfer Editor/Publisher Henry Frederick for an exclusive indepth video interview in Frederick's New Smyrna Beach home on Dec. 31. Here is that hour-long interview in three video segments.
.jpg)
NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Volusia County Chair Jason Davis of Edgewater cites the three "Ps" that led to his successful and overwhelming victory in the Nov. 6 general elections: Pavement, personality and perseverance.
Though he officially took over as county chair when the ball drop to the new year, per the county charter, Davis will be sworn in Jan. 10, a largely ceremonial function.
Please click the videos for an indepth interview focusing on how Davis dealth with being the clear underdog and political outsider, how he won so handily and how he's handling crtitical media coverage focusing on a decade-old arrest that was dropped and dredged up again with a big front page story. Davis also highlights his priorities and his approach to governance and leadership.
.jpg){kind=small}
By Jason Davis DELAND -- Now that all the noise has subsided, and the political dust has settled here we are in a new year. I hope everyone that is reading this had a safe and happy holiday season and I hope for health, happiness and prosperity for all as we move forward in the early days of 2013.
I, of course, have a lot of work ahead of me for I am now the Volusia County Chair, the highest elected official in our fair county, and I do take the responsibility of this office very seriously.
NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- The 10 administrators and staff of municipal government listed on a "private" retirement party for Jim Hathaway collectively make a collective $1.024 million annually yet a city credit card was used to pay up-front costs of $1,410 in meals for themselves and 37 others at Mayor Adam Barringer's SoNapa Restaurant.
Barringer's restaurant was paid the $1,410 in taxpayer dollars and it wasn't until a citizen watchdog filed a public records request and asked for a breakdown in costs.
NEW SMYRN BEACH -- There is a lot of news that we still need to get to today, barring major breaking news. We're giving Edgewater's elected officials every opportunity to be heard before we publish a new story on the suspension of Police Chief Dave Arcieri. We're waiting on call back requests with Mayor Michael Thomas and Councilwoman Gigi Bennington this morning and then we will publish a new story based on our exclusive interview with Arcieri.
OAK HILL -- The City Commission will meet 6 p.m. Monday, Jan. 13 at Oak Hill City Hall, 234 US Highway 1. For agenda item updates, please call the City Clerk's Office at 386-345-3522.
NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Extremely heavy traffic caused our database to crash the better part of the last two days. Hopefully, the problem has been fixed.
This is a harsh reality for this small business operation with very limited revenues while trying to handle the lever-increasing volume of online users.
Hopefully, the advertising will pick up so that we can make necessary upgrades to prevent these crashes.
.jpg)