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NSBNEWS.net photos by Henry Frederick.
Congresswoman Suzanne Kosmas, D-NSB, greets Sue Schouten, owner of Sonkran Thai Cuisine restaurant in South Daytona, at the NSB Farmers Market on Saturday in New Smyrna Beach. At left, Kosmas greets Schouten's children, Alexandra, 14, and Thomas, 11.
Kosmas' Republican challenger, Sandy Adams, wasn't there, but several of her campaign staffers were, all wearing T-shirts with her name on them.
NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- She wasn't sporting a campaign button or wearing a T-shirt with her name emblazoned on it. She wasn't even wearing a name tag. Congresswoman Suzanne Kosmas doesn't need any of that.
Her face is well known in the 24th district that encompasses parts of Volusia, Brevard, Seminole and Orange counties. And she certainly needs no introduction in New Smyrna Beach, where she is a native daughter.
More often than not, people came up to the popular Democrat, even as she worked her way through the crowd Saturday in the hot summer sun off Canal Street and next to the historic building that houses Southeast Volusia Chamber of Commerce.
While she stood front and center as a hundred or so people were milling about two dozen booths around noontime, several campaign staffers of Republican challenger Sandy Adams, worked the crowd as well, sporting T-shirts with her name on it. Adams, herself, was not there.
Sue Schouten, owner of the Sonkran Thai Cuisine restaurant in South Daytona, who had a booth at the Farmers Market, was so excited to see Kosmas, she asked if she could pose with her for a photo.
Kosmas obliged. Even posing with Schouten's children.
"I'm a fan of hers," the elder Schouten said of the congresswoman. "I'm a woman. She's woman."
Asked why she likes Kosmas so much, the restaurant owner responded: She's down to earth. No matter who you are, she'll always talk to you. And she cares about the small business owners."
Congresswoman Suzanne Kosmas speaks with an unidentified New Smyrna Beach resident.
Amid the meet and greets, Kosmas said her re-election is about her continuing the fight in Washington for employment opportunities across the district, including those displaced by NASA cuts at Cape Canaveral, many of whom live right here in New Smyrna Beach.
Kosmas said the common theme of her campaign is "jobs" and "developing incentives for small business owners."
As for her reception at the Farmers Market by dozens of residents and visitors, Kosmas said it felt "very, very heartwarming," especially coming from "deep roots, 37 years of being a business owner. I'm in my home town."
NSB Farmers Market photospread
NSBNEWS.net photos by Henry Frederick.
At left, Pat and John Lobato of P&J Woodcrafts in Edgewater, showcase their wooden art. NSBNEWS.net bought the lighthouse for $40. Below is a pretzel stand, WSBB radio's booth, a dog and the barriers detouring traffic from Canal.
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