Henry Frederick
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Henry Frederick, Editor/Publisher of NSBNews.net
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NSBNEWS.net photos by Henry Frederick and Sera Frederick. At left, Zone 2 City Commissioner Jack Grasty speaks at a public meeting. At right, Grasty and challengers Steve Sather (to his left) and Palmer Wilson to his right, participated in the recent candidate debates sponsored by the Public Watch Committee and NSBNEWS.net. Grasty has received the endorsements of the Board of Realtors, the Teamsters Union for city police and the International Association of Firefighters, the union for the city's firefighters.He is the only candidate among nine for three elective offices to receive all three endorsements for the 2009 NSB elections.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Zone 2 City Commissioner Jack Grasty stands alone among the nine candidates as the only one to win the triple crown of political endorsements leading up to Tuesday's primary: the police and fire unions and the Board of Realtors. Mayoral candidate Adam Barringer has the potential to also reach that achievement, having already locked up the firefighters union and Board of Realtors endorsements.

Zone 1 City Commissioner Randy Richenberg received the police and firefighter union endorsements while challenger Judy Reiker got the nod from the Board of Realtors. Having already secured the Board of Realtors recommendation to the voters for the 2009 elections, Grasty, who is seeking his second four-year term was thrilled with the endorsements from the Teamsters union that represents the police and the International Association of Firefighters that represents the firefighters.

"It means they have confidence in you, respect your views and that you're on the up and up," said Grasty, 61, a Vietnam War veteran and resident since 1971.

Grasty's opponents said they expected he would receive the endorsements all along, dismissing them as special interests.

"It does not surprise me given Mr. Grasty's voting record on their behalf at the expense of the taxpayer," said Palmer Wilson, 67, a retired police lieutenant and management consultant, who has been critical of police and fire department spending, especially costs for overtime and salary levels.

Steve Sather, 58, the other challenger, who is a Realtor, said he prides himself on "not being beholden to special interests like police and fire unions."

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incumbent for city commissioner