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DELAND -- In a surprising development today, Carl Persis resigned from his seat on the county council representing greater Ormond Beach, effective June 28, so he can continue his campaign for the office of Volusia County chair.

Because he's in the state's Deferred Retirement Option Program for early retirees from his tenure as principal with the Volusia County School District, he was required to have at least six months of separation from any other public service job, including elective office.

"I positioned myself for the 24/7 responsibilities for the chair's position by ending my service with Volusia County schools after 35 years," Persis said in a statement released by Volusia County government this afternoon.

Melvin Brown Jr., no stranger to prison, faces life behind bars when a judge sentences him to life in prison in the wake of Tuesday's guilty verdict in the shooting death of Jeremy Markley (shown here in the inset photo) whose body was found slumped in an SUV behind an Edgewater bar following a high speed chase through the streets of New Smyrna Beach.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- In just two hours of deliberations today, a jury found Melvin Brown Jr. guilty of first-degree murder in the shotgun slaying of fellow New Smyrna Beach resident Jeremy Markley on July 19, 2009, following a high speed chase with gunfire spraying the lead vehicle.

The jury's swift action paves the way for presiding Circuit Judge Randall Rowe to "adjudicate" Brown a convict and sentence him at a later date to life behind bars. Markley's life was cut shot by Brown's gunfire on of all nights, his 25th birthday.

Brown, having already been in prison for drug trafficking and now 34, is still a young man.

Headline Surfer photo by Henry Frederick /  Rich Gailey (at left), a candidate for the district 5 seat on the Volusia County representing greater Deltona, criss crosses with Volusia County Sheriff's candidate Wendell Bradford (shown in the inset as well) in front of the Gateway Center for the Arts in DeBary following a candidates' forum held there Tuesday evening.

EDGEWATER -- I don't understand why any Democrat, Republican or independent would vote for Obama. With a record such as his, he should not even be running because he has ruined this country.

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