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Headline Surfer photo by Serafina Frederick / New Smyrna Beach City Commissioner Jason McGuirk is shown at far left on a city firetruck with Mayor Adam Barringer during the 2012 Christmas parade. McGuirk became a city commissioner-elect in June when no one else qualified for the position while he kept a law profile, something he continues to do to this day.NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- In a domino effect, Jason McGuirk announced his candidacy in September 2011 as the heir-apparent to the zone 3 seat held by City Commissioner Jim Hathaway who had announced the month before hat he was going to run in the 2012 election for the dist. 3 seat on the Volusia County Council held by Joie Alexander who planned to retire.
Hathaway had competition from Edgewater Council member Justin Kennedy and former Volusia County School Board member Deb Denys of New Smyrna Beach. McGuirk, then-chairman of the city's planning and zoning board, advertised his Dairy Queen business with Headline Surfer while opting not to do any political advertising.
While three county council candidates went at it, McGuirk stayed in the shadows. When Headline Surfer started focusing its coverage on the CRA-sponsored nighttime street festivals that catered to the bars on Flagler Avenue, especially New Year's Eve heading into 2012, McGuirk pulled his ad, though he continued honoring the financial aspects of it in a signed contract, eventually paying for it in full.
McGuirk said he was getting heat because of his ad being associated with Headline Surfer and he was worried about losing customers. When asked where this was coming from, he declined to elaborate.
When asked if he had taken his own small children to the New Year's Eve celebration on Flagler with all the public drinking, McGuirk responded, "I wouldn't take them to something like that."
Once qualifying ended in June, McGuirk had secured Hathaway's seat when no other candidates emerged. He continued to remain under the radar until the November elections had ended and he took over the seat Hathaway had held for 18 years.
Hathaway would win the 2012 August primary with Denys coming in second and Kennedy out of the running. In the general election, however, Denys defeated Hathaway.
As for McGuirk, he has barely uttered a word on the commission since being sworn in and has not returned Headline Surfer's calls on various issues.
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