This may be one of the most important elections we have had in recent years in New Smyrna Beach . It certainly looks like one of the most exciting ones that I can remember with nine candidates.
First of all, we have more people running for office than in many years. There are three contestants for each seat, the mayor’s seat and two commissioners.
The people running represent a broad and impressive array of talent, experience and credentials.
To make the race more interesting the city is facing some tough decisions in order to keep itself on firm footing. There is no indication that the recession or slow down we are having will have any fast and significant recovery. Jobs will remain scarce and property values will probably not rebound to any significant extent.
Both the stock market and the housing market have overshot in the down ward direction so some recovery is expected in these. However, the conditions are not right for good solid steady growth that would make the job easy. The federal government has taken steps that make it difficult to create business or jobs. The city will in all probability be facing hard times and hard decisions for a long time
This means we need to select leaders who can make the proper decisions no matter how hard they may be.
Apparently the people have realized this because the number of people voting ahead of time is up nearly by a half over previous turnouts. Now is an important election and we need to get out and vote.
Only 11 percent voted in the 2007 primary for one contested seat won by Jim Hathaway over two lesser knowns. Surely we can do better than that this time around, judging by the quality and quantity of the candidates:
Mayor: Incumbent Sally Mackay and challengers Marilee Walters and Adam Barringer;
Zone 1 Commissioner: Incumbent Randy Richenberg and challengers Judy Reiker and Frank Dalton Jr.;
Zone 2 Commissioner: Incumbent Jack Grasty and challengers Palmer Wilson and Steve Sather.
Voting is empowering so please exercise this awesome privilege and be heard.