POLITICS

Epps-Wagner headline 3 debates in Port Orange on Oct. 21; Shelley-Henry Daytona mayoral debate waiting on venue

Dist. 8 Florida Senate candidates Dorothy Hukill, R-Port Orange, and Frank Bruno, D-Ponce Inlet, have agreed to participate in a 90-minute public candidate debate sponsored and moderated by Headline Surfer on Oct. 21 at the Brannon Center in New Smyrna Beach. 

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Headline Surfer held eight public candidate debates leading up to the Aug. 14 primary and has held three more so far during the general election cycle. Five more are planned before early voting gets under way and the biggest of them all is a showdown between Republican Dorothy Hukill and Democrat Frank Bruno.

DELTONA -- Since her first election campaign in 1992, Diane Matousek's motto as clerk of the circuit court has been "setting the standard for quality customer service."

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- So who won the big presidential debate? Shane Porter, who runs the Counseling Center of New Smyrna Beach, believes Mitt Romney rocked the vote with his showing.

"It's my opinion that Romney showed himself as a true leader," Porter said. "I now understand why he is successful. He can't be bullied. That was very interesting to see."

DELAND -- Ben Johnson is the longest serving employee of the Volusia County Sheriff's Office ever with 39 years under his belt. Oh, and he's the sheriff, rounding out 12 years in elective office as he gears up for a fourth four-year term in the November general elections. 

NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. -- Sheriff Ben Johnson has provided strong leadership as Volusia County's top cop for the last 12 years and we see no compelling argument from his challenger, Wendell Bradford, or anyone else for that matter, as to why he should be not be re-elected Nov. 6. Headline Surfer fully endorses Volusia County Sheriff Ben Johnson.

Headline Surfer photo by Henry Frederick / Former Ponce Inlet Mayor Nancy Epps, shown here, is challenging first-term dist. 2 Volusia County Council member Joshua Wagner in the Nov. 6 general elections.  

PORT ORANGE -- Challenger Nancy Epps and incumbent dist. 2 Volusia County Council member Joshua Wagner have each committed to participating in a public debate sponsored by Headline Surfer leading up to the Nov. 6 general elections.

Epps, who finished second to Wagner in the Aug. 14 primary in a three-way contest to force the run-off said she's looking forward to debating the issues.

PORT ORANGE, Fla. -- Dorothy Hukill, the outgoing state representative and dist. 8 State Senate candidate, addresses more than 200 Republican supports Sunday at her kickoff event at the Lakeside Community Center in Port Orange.