Headline Surfer video by Sera Frederick / Carl Persis didn't take power attorney Ted Doran lightly in the primary and he won't take surprise second-place finisher Jason Davis either in the general election. Click the video to hear more in 'The Sunday Conversation: Carl Persis.'
DAYTONA BEACH -- Carl Persis wants to become the face of Volusia County as its next elected chair. But standing in the way is surprise second-place finisher in the primary, Jason Davis.
Persis saw that the Volusia County Republican Party leadership was clearly organized in its support of Davis, a registered Republican from Edgewater and an Iraq war veteran.
Though the race for Volusia County chair is non-partisan, Persis, the former County Council member from Ormond Beach, wanted to make sure his fellow Democrats on the executive committee, got a wake-up call regarding the results so he sent a strongly worded e-mail just six days after the primary reiterating a point made by one of his former elected colleagues and party members.
"Clearly, the primary election for County Chair demonstrated by what Pat Northey mentioned in her message, which is the local Republican party was organized, prepared and determined to help every R candidate get elected."
Persis continued, "Having people at each precinct handing out the Conservative Voter's Guide and having it mailed to each person who requested an absentee ballot was a brilliant and obviously effective strategy."
Persis made no bones about his own future, stressing, "My election will likely depend o how well our local Democratic Party and you, as an individual, can influence voters. We can either fight back and win or do what we've done and lose."
Persis concluded his wake-up call by writing he is "prepared, experienced and ready to be your County Chair. If you would like to help me, let me know. Thanks so much."
Ironically, Persis took a page out of former nemesis Ted Doran's page when he wrote in part: "Personally, I believe I am not running against a person, I am running against the entire R Party."