Shiny Happy Politicians: Only in Volusia County can they trade barbs and mug it up for the cameras

Online News Publisher Henry Frederick / Headline SurferBy HENRY FREDERICK
Headline Surfer
People, Places & Things
 

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla -- I saw this pic overnight on County Councilwoman Deb Denys' Facebook page and there was just something about it that just stuck in my craw. 

Of all people to be yucking it up in social media -- here's Sheriff Mike Chitwood and Councilwoman Denys with the biggest grins imaginable like two long lost pals reuniting at a high school class reunion. 

Look, I get it: I'm not an idiot. Denys and Chitwood will say the happy scene is recognition of a formal get together to celebrate first responders. And how dare I twist this around at their expense and that of the first responders! What else would they say? Thy can't stand each other's guts. Well, on second thought, maybe Chitwood might, but he too, needs to put on act . After all, he's running for re-election.

They're politicians. It's like second nature for them to quell their inner hatred  and bask in the spotlight. The act is known as "grin and bear it." 

But it never ceases to amaze me how politicians seize the opportunity for the spotlight. The first responders aside, I felt sick to my stomach seeing Chitwood and Denys literally yucking it up. And, of course, there's the regular cavalcade of fellow politicians and other insiders lining up their names under the like button to get their share of the spotlight, too.

The first thought that popped into my head was "What stinkin' hypocrites!" Then came the unmistakable collective maniacal laughter of Dr. Evel and his band of misfits: Mwahahahaha mwahahahaha mwahahahaha mwahahahaha!!! Mwahahahaha mwahahahaha mwahahahaha mwahahahaha!!! Mwahahahaha mwahahahaha mwahahahaha mwahahahaha!!! And so I made a video critique. 

But it never ceases to amaze me how politicians seize the opportunity for the spotlight. The first responders aside, I felt sick to my stomach seeing Chitwood and Denys literally yucking it up. And, of course, there's the regular cavalcade of fellow politicians and other insiders lining up their names under the like button to get their share of the spotlight, too.

The first thought that popped into my head was "What stinkin' hypocrites!" Then came the unmistakable collective maniacal laughter of Dr. Evel and his band of misfits: Mwahahahaha mwahahahaha mwahahahaha mwahahahaha!!! Mwahahahaha mwahahahaha mwahahahaha mwahahahaha!!! Mwahahahaha mwahahahaha mwahahahaha mwahahahaha!!! And so I made a video critique. 

It was last summer when Chitwood and Councilwoman Heather Post tag-teamed with their verbal attacks on then-County Manager Jim Dinneen and others on the dais and away from it on their own Facebook pages, the Marc Bernier Radio Show, retired Holly Hill Police Chief Mark Barker's blog and the rants of yet another blogger in David Lee Davis. 

Who could forget the uproar of Chitwood going on Bernier's program on WNDB a month after Dinneen's exit and taking aim at Denys for daring to question the number of sworn personnel vacancies in his agency dismissing the New Smyrna Beach politician as a kinky sex fiend who knows nothing of law enforcement, stating, "The only thing she knows about policing is where her fur-lined handcuffs are on her headboard. That's what she knows about policing."

And while Denys brushed it aside, at least publicly, others didn't take too kindly to Chitwood's berating of Denys.