- April 25, 2024
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Voting is easy in Ormond Beach. You can visit volusiaelections.org, click on “Precinct Locator,” type in your address, and you will be instructed where and when to vote.
The hard part is figuring out who is who on the ballot. That’s where we come in. Last week, we published our Elections Guide, with questions and answers from the local races that impact Ormond Beach in the August Primary.
But even with those answers it’s still difficult to decide, so we have continued our tradition of debating among ourselves and seeking community members’ input to come up with our recommendations.
Some of you already know who you’re voting for, and you don’t want us to try to sway you. We understand that these recommendations aren’t for everyone.
But many people are still debating, and so we hope our reasoning will be useful to you. If you disagree, please vote. If you agree, please vote. And bring a friend.
Circuit Judge, 7th Judicial Circuit, Group 18: Steve Sands
Both Steven Sands and Karen Foxman have impressive resumes. Both have been practicing law for many years and are good at what they do.
In our view, this election should come down to the nature of their experience. Foxman has worked mostly (though not entirely) in the criminal world, prosecuting with the State Attorney’s Office. Sands has worked mostly with civil cases.
The 7th Judicial Circuit is more in need of civil experts than criminal experts, so we feel it’s best for circuit to go with Sands, an attorney who also has high ratings from Martindale Hubbell for ethics and ability.
We recommend Sands.
Circuit Judge, 7th Judicial Circuit, Group 20: Kathy Weston
While we admire Adam Warren’s interest in serving as a judge, his experience is not as strong as that of Steven DeLaroche or Kathy Weston.
DeLaroche’s tenure as a county judge ended in 2007 when he resigned for health reasons at the prospect of facing trial for alleged impropriety when dealing with traffic tickets of people he knew.
But the real focus in this race should be on Kathy Weston. She’s board certified and has high ratings for ability and ethics. She is tireless in her community involvement. And she has gained the support of several former judges in the area who know her well. Weston would be a great addition the circuit and would make Ormond Beach proud.
We recommend Weston.
Circuit Judge, 7th Judicial Circuit, Group 23: Thomas G. Portuallo
Although Kellie Jo Killebrew has handled cases in many areas of the law, Thomas G. Portuallo’s experience on the bench makes him our choice.
After 16 years of serving as a judge for workman’s compensation cases, Portuallo was appointed to the Group 23 seat in 2012. His experience in the past two years in this seat is invaluable, and he performed well in the role. According to 13 attorneys who rated him in the 2014 Judicial Poll, conducted by the Volusia County Bar Association, he received an “excellent” or “satisfactory” rating of 90% in key categories such as knowledge of the law, impartiality, preparedness and demeanor. We recommend Portuallo.
County Judge, 7th Judicial Circuit, Group 18: Peter McGlashan
Whereas the circuit court judges handle felonies and other high-level cases, county judges handle what could be considered lower-level cases, including misdemeanors, traffic court, landlord-tenant disputes.
Angela Dempsey’s experience is in dependency cases. On the other hand, Peter McGlashan is the incumbent, with many years of experience at the county court. That experience alone is enough to gain our support, but attorneys in the 2014 Judicial Poll referenced above have also rated him favorably. Of 20 attorneys who responded, 90% rated his knowledge and application of the law as “excellent” or “satisfactory”; 80% said he was impartial, 94% said he was diligent and prepared, and 85% gave high marks to his demeanor.
We recommend McGlashan.
County Council, At Large: Joyce Cusack
Webster Barnaby didn’t respond to our request to participate in our Q&A, and so we will assume he doesn’t have time to address our readers. That makes it difficult to recommend him.
Joyce Cusack is the at-large incumbent, seeking a second term. Pat Northey is the District 5 representative, but she has served two terms and so will have to vacate her seat on the council if she is not elected to the at-large seat.
Both Cusack and Northey have been in government for years and have served the county well. But Cusack’s eight years of experience at the state level give her an edge. In what is essentially a coin-toss between the two incumbents, we’ll stick with the at-large incumbent.
We recommend Cusack.
State Senator District 6, Republicans: John Thrasher
Derek Hankerson is a passionate public speaker, as was evidenced by his opening remarks at the Flagler Votes Forum in Palm Coast. But his strongest credentials so far are his involvement with national parks and having worked on other people’s campaigns.
John Thrasher, on the other hand, has been an influential player in the state for 20 years. He has won the support of local Republicans for helping to fund local projects. When asked what he would contribute that Hankerson can’t, he wrote: “My experience at the local and state level will afford me the opportunity to have a seat at the table for important discussions that impact Northeast Florida.” Thrasher is also a voice for low taxes and balanced budgets.
We recommend Thrasher.
Volusia School Board referendum for technology and security: Yes
With the state largely dictating school districts’ revenue, there are not many ways for a particular district to stand out. But we want the best for Ormond Beach’s kids, and we believe it’s worth investing in them.
The school district has asked voters to extend an existing half-cent sales tax for an additional 15 years. The projected $480 million that will be collected in that time will be used to upgrade technology in all schools in Volusia County. It will also be used to build new schools (although not in Ormond Beach) and enhance security on school buses.
A half-cent sales tax isn’t much. If you spend $100, it will cost you 50 cents. Moreover, as much as 40% of sales tax is paid by visitors, and they won’t even know the difference.
So, don’t forget to turn to Page 2 on your ballot. There, you’ll find one question asking if you want to extend the half-cent sales tax. Make the right call for the kids, and for the rest of us.
We recommend “Yes.”
