New Smyrna Beach resident Ellen Darden drops out of race for Volusia County Council seat

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Ellen Darden has withdrawn her name as an announced candidate for the Volusia County Council seat representing Southeast Volusia.

Darden notified NSBNews.net in an e-mail, stating in part: "I have made the decision to end my candidacy for the District 3 seat on the County Council."

She added, "After a number of weeks in discussion with my husband about this race, I have made the decision not to continue.

For reasons both personal and professional, this is not the appropriate time in my life to be engaged in an intense and expensive campaign for public office. I will continue to serve my community in any way that I can do so given the time I have available. All donors to date will have their donations returned in full, and we will absorb the campaign expenses to date."