Citizens have a chance to meet the candidates
By: Michael Kiepert Deltona, FL (July 26, 2010) -The Deltona Citizens Action Committee held a candidate Hob Nob Sunday, July 25, at the Deltona Library featuring candidates for Deltona’s Mayoral race along with commission candidates for Districts 1, 3, and 5 in Deltona, and candidates for Volusia County Council 5 and the at-large seats.
Pat Northey, Volusia County Councilperson, seeking reelection for district five felt, “it was a well-organized event.” When asked what she enjoyed most about the event Northey explained, “Unlike other forums, candidates actually got to talk to people other than other candidate’s campaign workers. This proves to me that the voters in Deltona are really interested in what is going on in the community.”
Deltona’s district five race brought out 4 of the 6 candidates running, with Pastor Fred Lowery and Wilfredo Sanchez not in attendance. “The Hob Nob was a great opportunity for the residents to meet and talk with the candidates that will be representing them,” said David McKnight, himself a candidate in district five.
Deltona resident, Ron, who didn’t want to give his last name, arrived with five questions which he asked each mayoral candidate. In the end, Ron walked out saying, “I now know who I’m voting for,” but wouldn’t elaborate any further.
John Masiarczyk who was Deltona’s first Mayor from 1995 – 2005 is running for Mayor after not being in office for five years. The question most often asked was, “what steps I could take to bring a working together relationship and improve Deltona’s image,” said Masiarczyk speaking of the working relationship within the current city commission. Masiarczyk went on to outline how, “people also were interested in steps we could take to involve our business community in the overall development process to speed up commercial growth.”
At one point, several of the candidates had a line of 10 people waiting for the opportunity to shake hands and speak with them the in a crowd that numbered about about 300. During the 2007 election, a local organization held a candidate debate that had an estimated 50 people in attendance. “During a debate format not everyone is able to ask their question of the candidate,” said Nancy Schleicher.
David McKnight, a candidate for Deltona District Five seat said the statement he heard most often was, “I hope you are not going to tell me you are going to lower my taxes.” McKnight smiled and replied that, “I don’t think any candidate can honestly tell you that. I will tell you that I will work to bring economic development to Deltona which will help ease the tax burden of our residents.”
Deltona Citizens Action Committee has hosted other events that included Morgan Gilreath Volusia County Property Appraiser, St John’s Water Management District, and open forums with Diane Smith (Volusia County School Board) and Pat Northey (Volusia County Council women).
Nancy Schleicher, chairperson of the organization credits the group’s success to “working with everyone and sometime crossing those political boundaries that are erected”.
