Endorsement: No clear-cut choice between two enthusiastic candidates for Edgewater City Council, dist. 1

EDGEWATER -- The race for the Edgewater City Council dist. 1 seat offers a stark contrast in candidates: Christine Power, a political newcomer, and James Paul Brown, a former two-term councilman, who occupied this very seat for six years, from 1999 to 2005. 

Power, 44, has shown in interest in seeing a Community Redevelopment District set up along U.S. 1 to help spur economic development. Brown, 67, owns a nearby bookstore.

They obviously give the voters something to think about, mostly whether Power's inexperience is worth a gamble or to go with the veteran office holder.

The winner will fill the seat vacated by Justin Kennedy who started his campaign for the CountyCouncil dist. 3 with so much promise, but fell behind two far-more experienced candidates in New Smyrna Beach City Commissioner Jm Hathaway and fellow NSB resident and former elected School Board member Deb Denys, who finished 1-2, respectively in the primary.

We honestly don't know enough about either candidate to make a definitive endorsement either way, though we applaud both for stepping up to the plate.

Candidate Snapshots

James Paul Brown
Age: 67
Career/Experience: Small business owner -- bookstore; Edgewater Dist. 1 councilman, 1999 to 2005; member of Edgewater YMCA Board of Directors and Board of Directors of the Veterans Commission; committee member, Florida Inland Navigation District committee member.
Education and/or military service: NA
Key Endorsements:  NA
 
Christine Power
Age: 44
Career/Experience:  Captain and past president,  Halifax Rowing Association in Daytona Beach
Education and/or military service: Retired Merchant Marine officer
Key Endorsements: NA
 

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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