Ellen Darden, president of the New Smyrna Beach Board of Realtors, is making a second consecutive run for the district 3 seat on the Volusia County Council. At this point, her competition would come from New Smyrna Beach Vice Mayor and Commissioner Jim Hathaway, shown in the smaller photoNEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Ellen Darden announced today that she is running in the 2012 election for the County Council seat held by outgoing Joie Alexander, who is not seeking re-election to that post.
Darden said she spoke with the incumbent before throwing her name in the ring for the position that represents Southeast Volusia. “I have spoken to Councilwoman Alexander, and she is definitely not running again for the District 3 seat,” Darden said.
Darden said she has been working closely with her, however, and that she would be "ready on day one to assume the duties and deal effectively with the issues.”
Darden added: “I believe that the citizens of Southeast Volusia County – indeed, all the citizens of Volusia County – will benefit from fresh ideas and a new way of looking at the issues which face us. We live in challenging times for both taxpayers and government, and the solutions of the past likely will not get us where we need to go. We need a fresh start, and I am prepared to give it my all.”
Darden added: “I believe that the citizens of Southeast Volusia County – indeed, all the citizens of Volusia County – will benefit from fresh ideas and a new way of looking at the issues which face us. We live in challenging times for both taxpayers and government, and the solutions of the past likely will not get us where we need to go. We need a fresh start, and I am prepared to give it my all.”
Alexander confirmed this morning with NSBNews.net that she indeed will not run again for her seat, but she did say she has not ruled running in a different race.
Darden, the 2011 president of the New Smyrna Beach Board of Realtors and an active agent with Watson Realty, has a long history of working both in the private and public sectors. She has been actively involved in local economic development efforts through the Southeast Volusia Chamber of Commerce and local and state issue advocacy campaigns.
This is her second run for the district 3 seat.
Darden said she made the decision to enter the race early in order to have as much time as possible to get input from fellow citizens and speak to as many voters as possible in detail about the issues that concern them most.
“Thus far, the most immediate thing on every person’s mind is rebuilding the economy,” she said. “Every government decision must address this in some form or fashion. Lower property taxes, a reduced regulatory burden and an open-arms attitude to new and existing businesses are not just topics for conversation – they must become the new reality if we intend for Volusia County to prosper.”
Sue Williams, immediate past president of the Southeast Volusia County Chamber of Commerce, has accepted the appointment as campaign manager for the Ellen Darden for County Council 3 campaign.
“There is much at stake for the people of our area, and we need to elect the most qualified and innovative leader that we can,” Williams said. “Ellen Darden is that person, and I would not be her campaign manager if I did not believe that completely.”
“There is much at stake for the people of our area, and we need to elect the most qualified and innovative leader that we can,” Williams said. “Ellen Darden is that person, and I would not be her campaign manager if I did not believe that completely.”
New Smyrna Beach Vice Mayor and City Commissioner Jim Hathaway announced last month his bid for the County Council district 3 seat.
FAST FACTS
Ellen Darden finished fourth among six candidates in the 2010 primary for the County Council district 3 seat. Incumbent Joie Alexander won the primary with 25.13% of the vote, foloowed by George Trovato with 17.59%, Deb Denys at 17.12%, Bill Benedict at 14.2% and Roger Gray at 7.01%. Alexander crushed Trovate in the general election with 56.04% of the vote to 43.96% for Trovato.