Internet newspaper holds public candidate debates in Oak Hill: Intro Mayor Douglas Gibson

Public candidate debates held in Oak Hill, Fl / Headline Surfer®

Event noteworthy for 2 things: Strong attendance and Denys, Northey no-shows

Pat Northey no-show at Oak Hill public candidate debate / Headline Surfer®

Headline Surfer® Video by Multimedia Editor Serafina King-Frederick / Oak Hill Mayor Douglas Gibson and HeadlineSurfer.com Publisher Henry Frederick chat on the dais at City Hall to open the 2014 public candidate debates on June 24 & 25. Deb Denys, the district 3 county councilwoman shown far left, was a no-show for the opening prime-time debate, and Pat Northey, the term-limited district 5 councilwoman vying for the at-large council seat, was a no-show on the second night.
 

OAK HILL -- The first of the HeadlineSurfer.com Public Candidate Debates were held over two nights in late June. They were memorable for two things: attendance and two prime debate no-shows from the Volusia County Council dais in District 3's Deb Denys and term-limited District 5''s Pt Northey, who is vying for the at-large seat.

First, the attendance: There were 45 citizens on the first night, Tuesday, June 24; and 75-plus citizens on the second night, Wednesday, June 25. 

Second, the no-shows: On the first night, the district 3 debate featured challengers David Machuga of New Smyrna Beach and Justin Kennedy of Edgewater, but Denys wasn't there. She never responded to multiple invitations sent in an e-mail to all county council members as well as to her on voice mail.

First, the attendance: There were 45 citizens on the first night, Tuesday, June 24; and 75-plus citizens on the second night, Wednesday, June 25. 

Second, the no-shows: On the first night, the district 3 debate featured challengers David Machuga of New Smyrna Beach and Justin Kennedy of Edgewater, but Denys wasn't there. She never responded to multiple invitations sent in an e-mail to all county council members as well as to her on voice mail.

On the second night, with the At-Large County Council contest, challenger Webster Barnaby, a first-term Deltona City Commissioner elected in 2012 was there, as was the incumbent, Joyce Cusack of DeLand, first elected in 2008.

The debates opened each night at 5:30 p.,m. with an "open mic" session" for candidates in other races. Thew first night featured Group 20 Circuit Judge candidates Steve de Laroche and Adam Warren.

The second night opened with and New Smyrna Beach City Commission Seat 2 candidate Jake Sachs and Joop Norhaussen, a candidate for Oak Hill City Commission who was unable to attend the first night's preliminary debate.