Deltona Mayor Santiago Avila Jr. now lameduck having finished dead last in 3-way election primary

Photos for Headline Surfer / TOP: Maritza A. Vazquez and Jason M. Voelz finished 1-2 in Tuesday's primary for Deltona mayor and will move on to the November general election. The incumbent, Santiago Avila Jr. finished last in the three-way primary and out of the running. LEFT: Unofficial election results for Deltona Mayor.

By HENRY FREDERICK / Headline Surfer

DELTONA, Fla. -- Santiago Avila Jr. is officially a lameduck mayor having finished dead last in a three-way race in Tuesday's primary election for the top municipal seat.

Avila won election on Nov. 8, 2022, and took office after being sworn in six days later, but his days in office are now numbered. 

Here are the unofficial results from Tuesday's election: Maritza A. Vazquez (34.04% 4,364 votes or 34.04%) and Jason M. Voelz (4,313 votes or 33.64%), finished 1-2 and are headed for a general election run-off, while Santiago (4,143 votes or 33.32) is not moving forward. The runoff is necessary because none of the candidates garnerted at least 50 percenrt, plus one vote to win outright.

This primary was really more about who lost and why.

Deltona Mayor Santiago Avila Jr. has faced significant local controversy, highlighted by a February 2025 vote where city commissioners narrowly failed (4-3) to officially penalize him for an unapproved, taxpayer-funded trip to Washington, D.C.

Key Controversies:

• Washington, D.C. Trip (2025): Criticized for using city funds and a city vehicle for a trip coinciding with a presidential inauguration, which commissioners argued violated city travel policies. Avila defended the trip as an effort to attend the U.S. Conference of Mayors and seek federal funding.Mayor’s Winter Ball (2025):

• Faced intense scrutiny from the commission and local media regarding the handling of event funds, after promoting the ball as a city-sponsored charity event when the city and designated charities denied formal involvement.

• Pride Month Proclamation (2024): Sparked sharp local debate and accusations of being unsupportive or "homophobic" after declining to sign an LGBTQ+ Pride Month proclamation, stating local government should not address social issues.

This primary was really more about who lost and why.

Deltona Mayor Santiago Avila Jr. has faced significant local controversy, highlighted by a February 2025 vote where city commissioners narrowly failed (4-3) to officially penalize him for an unapproved, taxpayer-funded trip to Washington, D.C.

Key Controversies:

• Washington, D.C. Trip (2025): Criticized for using city funds and a city vehicle for a trip coinciding with a presidential inauguration, which commissioners argued violated city travel policies. Avila defended the trip as an effort to attend the U.S. Conference of Mayors and seek federal funding.Mayor’s Winter Ball (2025):

• Faced intense scrutiny from the commission and local media regarding the handling of event funds, after promoting the ball as a city-sponsored charity event when the city and designated charities denied formal involvement.

• Pride Month Proclamation (2024): Sparked sharp local debate and accusations of being unsupportive or "homophobic" after declining to sign an LGBTQ+ Pride Month proclamation, stating local government should not address social issues.

Incumbent Deltona Mayor Santiago Avila Jr. could not be reached for comment on his defeat. 

Maritza Avila-Vazquez was elected Commissioner of District 3 in 2018 and chosen as vice mayor in December 2021 by her elected colleagues on the dais.

Jason Voelz, a small business owner, combat veteran, and retired cop, has never held elected office. 

Both have stressed the need for land preservation in their campaigns.

Race for Deltona City Commissioner District 6

Chris Nabicht (790 votes or 33.85%), the District 6 incumbent, who finidshed second in a three-way primary for re-election to his seat with 790 votes or 33.85 percent of the total, will be challenged in the November general election by upstart Christian O'Brien, who finished first in the primary with 824 votes or 35.30 percent of the total. 

Jody Lee Storozuk, finished third and out of the running for the district 6 seat with 720 votes or 30.85 percent of the total votes cast.

VOLUSIA COUNTY PRIMARY ELECTION NIGHT RESULTS

SEMINOLE COUNTY PRIMARY ELECTION NIGHT RESULTS

ORANGE COUNTY PRIMARY ELECTION NIGHT RESULTS

FLORIDA DIVISION OF ELECTIONS - Federal, State & County/Municipal Results 

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