Headline Surfer photos and video by Serafina King / Supervisor of Elections Lisa Lewis is shown with Headline Surfer Publisher Henry Frederick during a July 29 Headline Surfer Public Candidate Debate Night at the Lakeside Community Center, 1999 City Center Circle in Port Orange, Florida, where Frederick moderated three debates. Today is the primary in Volusia County and throughout the Sunshine State for local, county, state and federal contests.PORT ORANGE, Fla. -- Supervisor of Elections Lisa Lewis has demonstrated her transparency throughout the 2016 campaign season -- even appearing at an open forum during a debate series last month, in preparation for today's Sunshine State primary for city, county, state and federal races.
Lewis was among three candidates who joined a crowd of 50 citizens showed to watch the Headline Surfer Public Candidate Debate Night at the City of Port Orange-owned Lakeside Community Center where three debates were held:
• Port Orange City Council district 2 between political newcomers Sarah Jones and Chase Tramont;
• Port Orange Mayor between City Councilman Don Burnette, citizen watchdog Ted Noftall and Lance Green, son of term-limited Mayor Allen Green;
• County Chair with incumbent Jason Davis, Ormond Beach Mayor Ed Kelley and Orange City Mayor Tom Laputka. Greg Gimbert, a fourth county chair candidate, was a no-show.
Lewis appeared at the podium during a break between the second and third debates.
"I have been working there for 10 years - I have worked from the ground up," Lewis said , in part, during her 2-minute Q&A with the debate moderator, pointing out May 4, when she was appointed by Gov. Scott to fill the remainder of Ann McFall's term, which runs through December.
McFall announced her retirement in February. One of Lewis' three opponents who also showed up for the debate night program, political consultant David Lee Davis, was offered the same opportunity to speak in between the three debates, but he declined. Davis has taken a mostly antagonistic approach against Lewis via social media.
David Lee Davis, shown here in this file photo, also showed up for the Headline Surfer Public Candidate Debate Night in Port Orange, but he declined to speak.
Supervisor of Elections Lisa Lewis appeared at the podium between the second and third debates. "I have been working there for 10 years - I have worked from the ground up," Lewis said , in part, during her 2-minute Q&A with the debate moderator, pointing out May 4, when she was appointed by Gov. Scott to fill the remaindered of Ann McFall's term, which runs through December. McFall announced her retirement in February. One of Lewis' three opponents who also showed up for the debate night program, political consultant David Lee Davis, was offered the same opportunity to speak in between the three debates, but he declined. Davis has taken a mostly-antagonistic approach against Lewis via social media.
Also taking advantage of the open forum was State Rep. Fred Costello, R-Ormond Beach, Republican candidate for Congress, who spoke earlier in the evening.
Costello is among three Republicans vying for the GOP nod in today's primary for the 6th Congressional seat held by incumbent Ron DeSantis, R-Flagler Beach. A third candidate in the GOP primary is Ormond Beach Realtor GG Galloway.
Click the link to watch the Port Orange City Council district 2 debate: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wPZECuyR6I .
Click the link to watch the Port Orange Mayor's debate: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RnUzbAEg13M 