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NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- The 10 administrators and staff of municipal government listed on a "private" retirement party for Jim Hathaway collectively make a collective $1.024 million annually yet a city credit card was used to pay up-front costs of $1,410 in meals for themselves and 37 others at Mayor Adam Barringer's SoNapa Restaurant.
Barringer's restaurant was paid the $1,410 in taxpayer dollars and it wasn't until a citizen watchdog filed a public records request and asked for a breakdown in costs.

'Up to the challenge' of leading Volusia County

Newspaper Section
Jason Davis / Headline SurferBy Jason Davis
Volusia County Chair
Special to Headline Surfer
 

DELAND -- Now that all the noise has subsided, and the political dust has settled here we are in a new year. I hope everyone that is reading this had a safe and happy holiday season and I hope for health, happiness and prosperity for all as we move forward in the early days of 2013.

I, of course, have a lot of work ahead of me for I am now the Volusia County Chair, the highest elected official in our fair county, and I do take the responsibility of this office very seriously.

Exclusive video interview: 'Pavement, personality and perseverance' pay off for Volusia County Chair Jason Davis

Newspaper Section

Videos produced by Multimedia Editor Serafina Frederick / Volusia County Chair Jason Davis sat down with Headline Surfer Editor/Publisher Henry Frederick for an exclusive indepth video interview in Frederick's New Smyrna Beach home on Dec. 31. Here is that hour-long interview in three video segments.

Volusia County Chair Jason Davis interviewed by Henry Frederick / Headline SurferNEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Volusia County Chair Jason Davis of Edgewater cites the three "Ps" that led to his successful and overwhelming victory in the Nov. 6 general elections: Pavement, personality and perseverance.

Though he officially took over as county chair when the ball drop to the new year, per the county charter, Davis will be sworn in Jan. 10, a largely ceremonial function.

Please click the videos for an indepth interview focusing on how Davis dealth with being the clear underdog and political outsider, how he won so handily and how he's handling crtitical media coverage focusing on a decade-old arrest that was dropped and dredged up again with a big front page story. Davis also highlights his priorities and his approach to governance and leadership.

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'Up to the challenge' of leading Volusia County

Tony Ledbetter of Ormond Beach named to key Florida Republican leadership post

ORLANDO, Fla -- Pledging to his GOP colleagues that he would be a "conservative voice" for the party, Tony Ledbetter, chairman of the Republican Executive Committee of Volusia County, was elected Congressional District 6 chairman for the Republican Party of Florida at its annual meeting this weekend at the Rosen Centre Hotel.