By HENRY FREDERICK / Headline Surfer
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Now more than ever, conservative Deltona City Commissioner Webster Barnaby sees new leadership as the key to a better Volusia County, which is why he's running for the non-partisan at-large County Council seat against the incumbent and two other politicians, all of whom are long in the tooth.
Barnaby, 53, a registered Republican who romped to victory in 2012, has no problem with the label "newbie," especially when compared to his three opponents in the crowded race for the at-large seat led by incumbent Joyce Cusack of DeLand.
After all, if he's to be judged by his one-term in office, then he asks that you consider his friend, Congressman Ron DeSantis, R-St. Augustine, who like Barnaby, won election in 2012.
"And look at how Congressman DeSantis has turned out," Barnaby said.
Besides Cusack, vying for her second and final four-year term on the council after an eight-year run in the Statehouse, are Patricia Northey, term-limited in her district 5 County Council seat and now in her 20th year on the council having held several seats, and Holly Hill Mayor Roy Johnson, elected mayor after serving as a city commissioner.
"I am running for the At Large seat for the Volusia County Council this year because of my concern about the direction of our county," Barnaby told Headline Surfer®, repeating what he wrote as the preamble on his new campaign website. "Almost everyday, television, the internet and print media inundate us with stories about scandals and wasteful spending involving Volusia County Government. This should not be."
"I am running for the At Large seat for the Volusia County Council this year because of my concern about the direction of our county," Barnaby told Headline Surfer®, repeating what he wrote as the preamble on his new campaign website. "Almost everyday, television, the internet and print media inundate us with stories about scandals and wasteful spending involving Volusia County Government. This should not be."
But Barnaby, midway through his first term as a Deltona city commissioner, said he understands that if he doesn't get involved now at the county level, he knows that with the same circle of politicians vying for the countywide post, the situation is not going to get any better any time soon.
Volusia County: Third highest taxed of Florida's 67 counties
"Volusia County has the third highest property taxes in the state," Barnaby said. "We are fifth from the bottom in economic development amongst the 67 counties, even though Florida’s economy ranks in the top five among states. Our average (per capita) income is $24,000 and we are struggling to attract businesses offering competitive salaries."
Barnaby said when he ran for the Deltona City Commission District 2 seat, he campaigned on a promise to oppose increased property taxes and water rates. "As a Commissioner I stuck to my pledge and was the only one voting 'no.' As I campaign for (the at-large seat on the) County Council, I pledge again to vote 'no' to additional burdensome taxes. We have to find cost effective ways to reduce the cost of our government. This is integrity. This is why I am running."
Headline Surfer® graphic / Barnaby, endorsed by Headline Surfer® in the 2012 elections for his conservative values and positive campaign theme, won handily over fellow newcomer Rob Field with 51.78 percent of the 5,761 of the votes cast, or 2,983 to 2,778. Barnaby has aptly headlined his website message, "New Leadership for a Better Volusia."
Besides the untenable high tax rates, Barnaby lists several other critical issues that need to be addressed:
-- Jobs & Industries -- More incentives need to be offered to generate interest from companies looking to relocate to Central Florida and great locales like Deltona, DeLand, Daytona Beach, Port Orange, New Smyrna Beach and Ormond Beach;
-- Streamlined Permit Process -- Government needs to make it easier for builders and others to submit a permit and to allow them to complete the process online;
-- Stem Tide of Economic Stagnation -- Cut waste and regulations that hamper business growth;
-- Foster Open Government -- Bringing integrity and transparency to the residents of Volusia County is one of the most important issues in this election cycle and moving forward.
Importance of transparency learned through community service
Transparency learned through Barnaby believes his tenure not only with the Deltona city commission, but his other civic and community activities, have better prepared him to understand and covey the importance of getting beyond rhetoric and embracing true transparency in government.
Among those activities, Barnaby currently is a board member of Trinity Assembly of God Church, Elkcam Blvd, Deltona; a former district board member of Trinity Christian Academy; former three-term PTA president at Trinity Christian Academy; and a former school board member of Reading Edge Academy Charter School in DeBary.
Here is a link to Webster Barnaby's Facebook campaign page:
FAST FACTS: Webster Barnaby & Family
Webster Barnaby, an ordained minister, registered Republican and an avowed conservative, is a national sales representative with the non-partisan research firm, National Write Your Congressman, and has been with the firm for nearly 20 years.
Barnaby and his wife Silvia (who is the Deltona site manager at Quest Diagnostics Lab) have two adult children who grew up in Deltona. Their daughter, Britney, recently graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor's degree in Interior Design/Architecture. And their son, Adrian, is a Midshipman at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., where he is majoring in Political Science and also is a defensive lineman with the Navy football team.
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Endorsement: Webster Barnaby for Deltona City Commission, District 2Did You Know?
Headline Surfer® snapshot graphic /CAMPAIGN 2014
Click the ad above to go to Volusia County Council District 5 candidate Rich Gailey's campaign website to learn more about his run in the 2014 elections for the seat that represents the cities of Deltona and DeBary & unincorporated Enterprise.
Check out Gailey's Facebook social media posts by clicking the link: https://www.facebook.com/RichGailey4VolusiaCountyCouncil.