DAYTONA BEACH -- Nancy Epps is a formidable opponent, but unless she can demonstrate that incumbent dist. 2 County Council member Joshua Wagner has not done the job for which he was narrowly elected four years ago, then he should be given the benefit of the doubt in Tuesday's general election.
Top graphic by Headline Surfer Muiltimedia Editor Serafina King Frederick / Joshua Wagner easily wins re-election over former Ponce Inlet Mayor Nancy Epps in the general election.NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- The results are even sweeter the second time around for Joshua Wagner with a resounding re-election victory in Tuesday's general election to retain his district 2 seat on the Volusia County Council.
This election is a nail bitter and I truly hope it does not come down to the popular vote being ignored and the Electoral College making the choice for our president. I personally think that system should be abolished and I have read that it is slowly being done state by state.
.jpg)
ORMOND BEACH -- With a victory in today's general elections, Carl Persis could finally emerge from the shadow of Frank Bruno and become the new face of Volusia County government.
Only one man stands between Persis and that eight-year wait for the non-partisan county chairmanship: Jason Davis. The registered Republican was the forgotten candidate from the moment qualifying ended and print media had its camera on power attorney Ted Doran.
Davis faced further humiliation when the Daytona Beach News-Journal teamed up with the Tiger Bay Club to host a debate and Davis was excluded. But Davis persevered.
Mayor's MessageNEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Get out and Vote!
Why vote?
I asked this question to quite a few people as we entered into the campaign season and the answer was standard across the board, "Because it is my right, because we are a democracy, it is my civic responsibility, because I love our country, because we need change."
As you can imagine, there were a few others full of expletives.
As mayor, I believe everyone needs to vote and here ae the reasonds why:
1. All politics are local. Many of the local leaders who have a great impact on your daily lives are elected with narrow margins. Your vote definitely counts. (In 2009, 112 votes made the difference in my election).
DEBARY -- The end is near -- finally. Regardless if you are Republican or Democrat, I will be gladwhen November 6th is over.
EDGEWATER -- The race for the Edgewater City Council dist. 1 seat offers a stark contrast in candidates: Christine Power, a political newcomer, and James Paul Brown, a former two-term councilman, who occupied this very seat for six years, from 1999 to 2005.
Power, 44, has shown in interest in seeing a Community Redevelopment District set up along U.S. 1 to help spur economic development. Brown, 67, owns a nearby bookstore.
Headline Surfer videos by Sera Frederick / Clerk of the Circuit Court Diane Matousek introduces herself to 200 citizens at the Brannon Center in New Smyrna Beach, finishing her enthusiastic presentation with a "Yes!" NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- There's an old saying that goes like this: "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." That adage applies to the leadership, mentoring and professionalism of Diane Matousek, Volusia County's outstanding clerk of the circuit court.
NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Christopher Kelly attended a candidate introduction forum prior to the big state senate debate between Dorothy Hukill and Frank Bruno at the Brannon Center on Oct. 20. It was Kelly's 44th birthday, no less. He learned of his endorsement right there and then in front of 200 citizens.
DELTONA -- Admittedly, we know very little about the inner political workings in Deltona municipal government, but after reviewing the candidacies of the candidates for the non-partisan dist. 4 city commission seat, we believe Nancy Schleicher is well versed on the issues and has continued her commitment to monitoring public meetings despite coming up short in a previous run for office.
Schleicher, 65, a Democrat and retired school teacher with 33 years in the Deltona public schools, lost to Paul Treusch in 2007, and since then has attended every city commission meeting and it shows in her knowledge of topics like upgrading sewers, looking at CRA districts and code enforcement issues in a city that has seen tremendous growth in the last two decades. Her list of civic achievements is unparalleled in Deltona.
