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Photos for Headline Surfer / Robert Fortner, a Republican state committeeman from DeLand, cheers during Mitt Romney's acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention in Tampa.TAMPA -- Robert Fortner, a GOP state committeeman from DeLand, liked what he heard from Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney in his acceptance speech at the convention.
The impressions of Volusia County Republicans who attended the convention comes in No. 50 in Headline Surfer's countdown of the top 100 local stories of 2012.
"He gave us what we wanted to hear," the 68-year-old retired custom automotive car and boat manufacturer said on his way back to his hotel. "He had a job to do to accept the nomination and he delivered. He was very positive for the country's future."
Fortner was particularly impressed by Romney's reference to the role his wife, Ann played in raising their five sons while he was on the road and she was left with making sure the boys were taken care of, including doing their homework.
"Everyone in their family believes that this was an important job," Fortner said, explaining he heard the children speak of their mother's role in their upbringing. Fortner said he enjoyed Clint Eastwood's speech and his references to Obama as if he were speaking to him, and he was particularly impressed by Florida's first-term US Sen. Marco Rubio's introduction of Romney to the podium. "He really understands what this country needs and where Romney will take it," Fortner said. *Dana Doughterty Swanson of DeBary was a Florida delegate to the Republican National Convention as shown here.* Dana Doughterty Swanson, a state GOP committeewoman who attended the convention, said the event gave the public a positive picture of the Romneys and why they were deserving of the party's nomination. "Ann Romney’s speech to the American public showed Mitt Romney as a family man and the personal side of him that has not been publicized by the media," said Swanson, who since the convention has contributed a regular blog for Headline Surfer called "Dana's Docket." She also became a regular panelist on the 24/7 Internet newspaper's online show, "The Roundtable." Swanson added, "Mitt Romney his speech and everything leading up to that, presented a complete picture of the candidate: personal, professional and charitable." *Top 100 Countdown Recap:* *50. Robert Fortner of DeLand thrilled with Romney/Ryan at GOP convention in Tampa* Link: http://headlinesurfer.com/content/411510-50-robert-fortner-deland-thril… [1] *51. Romney's wife makes campaign stop at Daytona nursery school* Link: http://headlinesurfer.com/content/411497-51-romneys-wife-makes-campaign… [2] *52.The Rev. Jesse Jackson campaigns for Obama in New Smyrna Beach and Daytona Beach* Link: http://headlinesurfer.com/content/411494-52the-rev-jesse-jackson-campai… [3] 53. Former Oak Hill cop Manuel Perez charged with domestic violence Link: http://headlinesurfer.com/content/411476-53-former-oak-hill-cop-manuel-… [4] *54. North Causeway workforce housing opposed by nearby affluent New Smyrna Beach neighbors* Link: http://headlinesurfer.com/content/411447-54-north-causeway-workforce-ho… [5] *55. Hotelier lobbies NSB for Delta Queen in waters of North Causeway* Link:* *http://headlinesurfer.com/content/411442-55-hotelier-lobbies-nsb-delta-… [6] *56. Volusia County GOP conservative Jim Oddie meets Paul Ryan in The Villages* Link: http://headlinesurfer.com/content/411438-56-volusia-county-gop-conserva… [7] *57. NSB family dog quarantined a week for nip on child's ear* Link: http://headlinesurfer.com/content/411433-57-nsb-family-dog-quarantined-… [8] *58. New Smyrna Beach celebrates MLK holiday* Link: http://headlinesurfer.com/content/411429-58-new-smyrna-beach-celebrates… [9] *59. Halloween parade in NSB draws lots of children* Link: http://headlinesurfer.com/content/411410-59-halloween-parade-nsb-draws-… [10] *60. Volusia County teens celebrate world language festival at New Smyrna Beach High School* Link: http://headlinesurfer.com/content/411364-60-volusia-county-teens-celebr… [11] *61. Ida Wright wins Daytona-area school board seat primary* Link: http://headlinesurfer.com/content/411361-61-ida-wright-wins-daytona-are… [12] *62. VCSO deputy recognized for 'job well done' in reviving baby* Link: http://headlinesurfer.com/content/411351-62-vcso-deputy-recognized-job-… [13] *63. Outdoor fire ban lifted in mid-June for unincorporated Volusia County, Oak Hill, Pierson and Lake Helen* Link: http://headlinesurfer.com/content/411304-63-outdoor-fire-ban-lifted-mid… [14] *64. NSBHS graduating seniors receive $2.2 million in scholarships* Link: http://headlinesurfer.com/content/411347-64-nsbhs-graduating-seniors-re… [15] *65. VCSO: Man murdered in Osteen may be linked to drug growing operation* Link:http://headlinesurfer.com/content/411347-64-nsbhs-graduating-seniors-re… [16] *66. Circuit judge: Death sentence stands for Deltona Xbox mass murderer* Link: http://headlinesurfer.com/content/411302-65-vcso-man-murdered-osteen-ma… [17] *67. Murderous rampage: Port Orange man kills own son and a camper at RV park in Deerfield Beach before killing himself* Link: http://headlinesurfer.com/content/411300-67-murderous-rampage-port-oran… [18] *68. Alleged New Smyrna Beach serial arsonist nabbed by Volusia County Sheriff's investigators* Link: http://headlinesurfer.com/content/411299-68-alleged-new-smyrna-beach-se… [19] *69. Feds: NSB man gets 12 years in prison for kiddie porn* Link: http://headlinesurfer.com/content/411297-69-feds-nsb-man-gets-12-years-… [20] * >**70. NASCAR promotes management talent into senior ranks* Link: http://headlinesurfer.com/content/411296-70-nascar-promotes-management-… [21] *71. Deputy shoots and kills DeLeon Springs man after rifle pointed at him while trying to serve warrant* * Link:* http://headlinesurfer.com/content/411295-71-deputy-shoots-and-kills-del… [22] *72. Bike Week body paint model at Cabbage Patch outside NSB strikes a pose* Link: http://headlinesurfer.com/content/411287-72-bike-week-body-paint-model-… [23] *73. Palm Coast man gets sentence of at least 25 years in prison for robbing Ormond Beach pharmacy of painkillers* Link: http://headlinesurfer.com/content/411286-73-palm-coast-man-gets-sentenc… [24] *74. Edgewater police chief relieved accused killer who dumped bodies here captured* Link: http://headlinesurfer.com/content/411285-74-edgewater-police-chief-reli… [25] *75. Port Orange man dies in fire; blaze contained to victim's apartment* Link: http://headlinesurfer.com/content/411284-75-port-orange-man-dies-fire-b… [26] *76. Santa brings toys for tots to NSB via train* Link: http://headlinesurfer.com/content/411276-76-santa-brings-toys-tots-nsb-… [27] *77. Ocassional NSB resident Johnny Damon signs with Cleveland Indians* Link: http://headlinesurfer.com/content/411275-77-ocassional-nsb-resident-joh… [28] * 78. NSBHS students of driving age learn importance of organ donation * Link:* http://headlinesurfer.com/content/411274-78-nsbhs-students-driving-age-… [29]* *79. Edgewater man killed after being struck by train while throwing rocks at it* Link: http://headlinesurfer.com/content/411273-79-edgewater-man-killed-after-… [30] *80. County Council breaks bread with Daytona Area Chamber of Commerce* Link: http://headlinesurfer.com/content/411272-80-county-council-breaks-bread… [31] *81. Body of 55-year-old DeBary man found in charred remains of home* Link: http://headlinesurfer.com/content/411267-81-body-55-year-old-debary-man… [32] *82. Crossdresser rebuffed in trying to rob Deltona pharmacy of pills* Link: http://headlinesurfer.com/content/411264-82-crossdresser-rebuffed-tryin… [33] *83. Deltona pit bull 'Snoopy' back home* Link: http://headlinesurfer.com/content/411262-83-deltona-pit-bull-snoopy-bac… [34] *84. Ormond Beach cops: Man driving upwards of 150 mph in Lamborghini killed on US 1* Link: http://headlinesurfer.com/content/411261-84-ormond-beach-cops-man-drivi… [35] *85. NSB cops: Motorist arrested on fourth DUI charge* Link: http://headlinesurfer.com/content/411259-85-nsb-cops-motorist-arrested-… [36] *86. Postal truck becomes engulfed in flames in Edgewater, but mail salvaged* Link: http://headlinesurfer.com/content/411245-86-postal-truck-becomes-engulf… [37] *87. New Smyrna Beach Finance Dept. wins national award* Link: http://headlinesurfer.com/content/411243-87-new-smyrna-beach-finance-de… [38] *88. Sad irony: Elderly man drowns in river named for death* Link: http://headlinesurfer.com/content/411242-88-sad-irony-elderly-man-drown… [39] *89.* *NSB Fire Chief Dave McAllister among community award winners by Volusia League of Cities* Link*: *http://headlinesurfer.com/content/411241-89-nsb-fire-chief-dave-mcallis… [40] *90. Unlicensed 17-year-old Orange City boy runs over and kills 84-year-old woman in Deltona shopping plaza* Link: http://headlinesurfer.com/content/411204-90-unlicensed-17-year-old-oran… [41] *91. NSB City Clerk Johnny Bledsoe gets new contract; 20 weeks compensation if canned* Link: http://headlinesurfer.com/content/411203-91-nsb-city-clerk-johnny-bleds… [42] *92. Votran bus operator drives 2 million miles on Volusia County roads without an accident* Link: http://headlinesurfer.com/content/411195-92-votran-bus-operator-drives-… [43] *93. Jason McGuirk gets Jim Hathaway's seat on NSB commission* Link: http://headlinesurfer.com/content/411162-93-jason-mcguirk-gets-jim-hath… [44] *94. Holly Hill woman calls in bomb threat at work forcing evacuation of 300; tells cops she was bored* Link: http://headlinesurfer.com/content/411110-94-holly-hill-woman-calls-bomb…; [45] *95. Sheriff holds open house in Oak Hill six months after taking over law enforcement duties* Link: http://headlinesurfer.com/content/411109-95-sheriff-holds-open-house-oa… [46]
*96. Audio: Cop pursuit in New Smyrna Beach with speeds clocked at 100 mph-plus ends with stop sticks* Link: http://headlinesurfer.com/content/411036-96-audio-cop-pursuit-new-smyrn… [47] *97. Ponce Inlet Councilman Joseph Perrone holds onto his seat by one vote* Link: http://headlinesurfer.com/content/410920-97-ponce-inlet-councilman-jose… [48]
*98. Edgewater's Tia McDonald featured in book while visiting Australia* Link: http://headlinesurfer.com/content/410919-98-edgewaters-tia-mcdonald-fea… [49] *99. Gene Emter wins Edgewater City Council seat by 12-vote margin in special election* Link: http://headlinesurfer.com/content/410884-99-gene-emter-wins-edgewater-c… [50]
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