BREAKING NEWS: Port Orange City Councilman Don Burnette announces run for mayor

Port Orange City Councilman Don Burnette running for mayor / Headline Surfer®Port Orange City Council / Headline Surfer®Photos for Headline Surfer® /
Don Burnette is running in 2016 for the Port Orange mayoral seat being vacated by Allen Green (2nd from left) because of term limits. Shown with them are Drew Bastian, the dis 3 councilman (3rd from left), who has announced he will seek re-election next year; Scott Stiltner, the dis 4 councilman elected in 2014; and Bob Ford. dis 1 councilman mid-way through his second term.
 

PORT ORANGE, Fla. -- Don Burnette is taking the next logical step up in his career as politician and public servant: The Port Orange city councilman is running for mayor in the 2016 elections.

"I’ve reflected on how God has blessed me with a great family and wife, terrific friends, and an awesome city for which I am very proud to serve as councilman," Burnette, 48, said. "He has also blessed me with certain abilities to make a real difference in people’s lives. Therefore I’m announcing with great pride and honor my intentions to run for Mayor of Port Orange."

"I’ve reflected on how God has blessed me with a great family and wife, terrific friends, and an awesome city for which I am very proud to serve as councilman," Port Orange city councilman and mayoral candidate Don Burnette, 48, said. "He has also blessed me with certain abilities to make a real difference in people’s lives. Therefore I’m announcing with great pride and honor my intentions to run for Mayor of Port Orange."

Burnette is the first candidate to announce his intention to run for the top municipal post, which is held by Mayor Allen Green, who is term-limited after two consecutive four-year terms.

Burnette, who is very active with social media, teased his friends Wednesday with the following statement: "There is something I've been wanting to share with you all for sometime now. It's something I'm quite excited about! I hate leaving my family and friends in the dark, but for now I have to do it! Can you wait just one more day?"

At 5 p.m. today, Burnette made official what he had put out the day before: That he was running for mayor, which he shared with HeadlineSurfer.com earlier this week on condition the award-winning internet newspaper would allow him to announce it today before publishing a story, which he did on Facebook.

At 5 p.m. today, Burnette made official what he had put out the day before: That he was running for mayor, which he shared with HeadlineSurfer.com earlier this week on condition the award-winning internet newspaper would allow him to announce it today before publishing a story, which he did on Facebook. 

Headline Surfer® Q&A with Don Burnette:

QUESTION: What would be your first priority if elected mayor of Port Orange?

ANSWER: Continuing to work with our new city manager to fill key department head positions in city hall and help build them into a cohesive team in order to better serve our citizens.

QUESTION: Why are you running for mayor?

ANSWER: I feel I can make a difference in the lives of the people of Port Orange. It is important to build on the things the city does to promote a higher quality of life. From infrastructure to parks & rec, there are many things we do well but there are still many opportunities to better the lives of the people who live here.

Don Burnette & family of Port Orange gearing up for masyoral run / Headline Surfer®FAST FACTS: Don Burnette

Career: District 2 Port Orange city councilman and announced candidate for mayor in 2016; senior loan officer & VP of development at American Mortgages
Family: Wife of 20 years, Anita Reber & their two sons, Matthew, 17, and Patrick, 14.
Education: Bachelor's and Master's in Business Administration, University of Central Florida.
Background: Native of Daytona Beach, Fla.;
fan of UCF Knights football;
Enjoys NASCAR & Daytona 500, favorite driver is No. 48 Jimmie Johnson. 

Previous-Related Coverage:

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- What a way for Port Orange City Councilman Don Burnette to kick off the new year. Burnette was still celebrating his UCF Knights' big win over the Baylor Bears in the New Year's Day Fiesta Bowl hours after the game.
Posted Thu, 2014-01-02 04:33