Headline Surfer videos produced by Multimedia Editor Serafina King-Frederick / Christopher Kelly, candidate for county judge, first learned of his endorsement at a public candidate debate on Oct. 20, when it was publicly announced in front of 200 citizens at New Smyrna Beach's Brannon Center.
NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Christopher Kelly attended a candidate introduction forum prior to the big state senate debate between Dorothy Hukill and Frank Bruno at the Brannon Center on Oct. 20. It was Kelly's birthday, no less.
He learned of his endorsement right there and then in front of 200 citizens.
Kelly has worked hard in a grassroots campaign to reach out to as many voters as possible outside of his busy schedule as managing assistant state attorney for the State Attorney's Office.
His opponent, Adam Warren, a former assistant state attorney now in private practice, has relied heavily on TV political ads to get his message out, though he, too, has been somewhat visible in the campaign.
Warren has name recognition through his late father, former State Attorney Dan Warren and his mother, Stasia Warren, who came up short in the Aug. 16 primary in her attempt to unseat fellow Republican State Attorney RJ Larizza who was re-elected because there was no Democratic or NPA challenger.
Warren has often brought up his prominent parents in campaign forums as instilling his values and respect for the law. But for that matter, Kelly, too, has strong family name recognition. His father, Larry Kelly, was mayor of Daytona Beach for 19 years until 1993.
Warren was with the state attorney's office for a few years while Kelly has been prosecuting cases for 12 years. The experience Kelly has as a prosecutor would prove invaluable on the bench where county court judges deal with misdemeanor criminal matters and civil litigation.
Headline Surfer photo by Henry Frederick / Christopher Kelly addresses attendees of the recent Southeast Volusia Chamber of Commerce Hob Nob at the Brannon Center.
Kelly not only has courtroom trial experience, he's also a supervising prosecutor. He is currently managing assistant state attorney, overseeing 20 felony attorneys and 30 support staff.
The attorneys under Kelly’s direction are assigned to various divisions in the State Attorney’s office. Cases include felony intake, general felony trial, drug unit, sex crimes, special prosecutions and more. Kelly assists the attorneys in case evaluation, trial strategy and problem solving.
Though both are fine attorneys, we believe Kelly, who won the primary with Warren finishing second in a crowded field to force the general election runoff, has far more experience. And he has the acumen and temperament required to sit on the bench.
Though both are fine attorneys, we believe Kelly, who won the primary with Warren finishing second in a crowded field to force the general election runoff, has far more experience. And he has the acumen and temperament required to sit on the bench.
Headline Surfer strongly recommends Christopher Kelly for election in the race for county judge, group 4.
Candidate snapshots
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Christopher Kelly
Adam Warren
Headline Surfer videos by Serafina King Frederick / Headline Surfer held a day-long marathon of public candidate debates on July 21, at the Brannon Center in New Smyrna Beach for eight races, including coverage here for Volusia County Judge, group 4, leading up to the primary, won by Kelly.
Editor's Note: The endorsements recommended to the voters are the sole decision of the reporter here, Henry Frederick, Headline Surfer's award-winning editor and publisher, who has covered news in Volusia County since 1996. In the interest of full disclosure, Frederick is a registered Democrat.
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