Declines comment on opponent Steve Sather and his no contest cocaine plea
OAK HILL -- Jake Sachs believes the merits of his own candidacy for New Smyrna Beach City Commission seat far outweigh the need to discuss his opponent's seedy criminal drug past.
Sachs appeared in the "open mic" session of the HeadlineSurfer.com public candidate debates held over two nights at the Oak Hill City Hall with 45 people attending the opening night and 75-plus the second night.
Sach's opponent is Stephen P. "Steve" Sather, who, back in 1992, pleaded "no contest" to trying to purchase a large quantity of cocaine from an undercover cop in New Smyrna Beach who was posing as a drug dealer.
While this is Sach's maiden run, Sather ran unsuccessfully for the same seat back in 2009, against then-first-term incumbent Grasty.
This led to revelation of Sather's sordid criminal past with stories published in the award-winning 24/7 internet newspaper and he finished dead last in a three-way August primary won by Grasty with another candidate, Palmer Wilson, finishing second.
Because Grasty captured more than 50 percent of the votes cast, he was automatically returned to the seat without having to deal with a run-off election that November.
Because Sachs and Sather are the only contestants in the race this time around, they will bypass the Aug. 26 primary and instead square off in the November elections.
Sachs, a retired firefighter, who led a grassroots effort to reduce driver speed limits on Third Avenue, the main artery on the beachside, which has stretches where the roadway is five lanes -- turning lane in the median -- after two pedestrian deaths.
As for his opponent Sather's seedy cocaine past, Sach's declined to get into it. "I'm running on my own merits," Sachs said, adding he's focused on his own campaign. Sather did not return messages for comment.
As for his opponent Sather's seedy cocaine past, Sach's declined to get into it. "I'm running on my own merits," Sachs said, adding he's focused on his own campaign. Sather did not return messages for comment.
The open mic sessions preceded a debate for one of two Oak Hill City Commission seats and prime-time debates for two seats on the Volusia County Council: The district 3 seat on the opening night featured challengers David Machuga of New Smyrna Beach and Justin Kennedy of Edgewater. The incumbent, Deb Denys, was a no-show.
The second night's prime-time debate was for the at-large County Council seat between incumbent Joyce Cusack of DeLand and one of her challengers, Webster Barnaby of Deltona. Her other opponent, Patricia Northey of Deltona, term-limited in her district 5 seat on the County Council and in her 20th year on the dais, was a no-show.
Summaries of the debates and open mics are being published in individual stories. As for Sachs, he's seeking the seat 2 seat o the New Smyrna Beach City Commission seat currently held by Jack Grasty, who is running for mayor against former colleague Jim Hathaway.