YouTube downloads by Headline Surfer® / Videos by Margie Patchett / DAYTONA BEACH -- Margie Patchett, the no-nonsense co-founder and executive director of Volusia Tax Reform, interviewed three candidates for Counry Council and as such is the featured newsmaker interviewee for today's Headline Surfer® multimedia presentation of The Sunday Conversation.
Patchett eaelier this month interviewed district 5 candidate Rich Gailey, at-large candidate Patricia Northey and district 1 candidate Andy Kelly. You can click on the individual videos to watch the interviews Patchett conducted separately with Gailey, Northey and Kelly.
Patchett's questions are identically recorded for each newsmaker in their own video segment and their individual responses follow each of her questions.
Fred Lowry, Jr., Gailey's opponent in the district 5 race, did not respond to Patchett's interview request. Neither did at-large incumbent Joyce Cusack nor did district 1 incumbent Pat Patterson. Cusack, a former statehouse representative, won her first term on the council against fellow challenger Patchett.
Northey is term-limited in her district 5 seat and in order to try and stay on the dais, has challenged Cusack. Gailey who lost to Northey in the 2012 elections, came in first in the 2014 primary with Lowry finishing a distant second. Northey barely held onto the No. 2 spot in the primary in a recount over third place finisher Webster Barnaby of Deltona. Cusack won the primary.
Patchett's impression of the candidates' responses
Asked which of the three she was most impressed with, Patchett said she liked Gailey and Kelly, saying of the latter, "Andy was always one that wanted lower taxes and I remember one year when he found $16 million in the vehicle replacement fund and wanted to use those funds to reduce property taxes, but of course, the council voted 'no'"
Kelly gave up his seat on the County Council in the 2012 elections to run for supervisor of elections in a crowded fields which was won outright in the primary by the incumbent, Anne McFall.
Asked which of the three she was most impressed with, Patchett said she liked Gailey and Kelly, saying of the latter, "Andy was always one that wanted lower taxes and I remember one year when he found $16 million in the vehicle replacement fund and wanted to use those funds to reduce property taxes, but of course, the council voted 'no'"
Kelly gave up his seat on the County Council in the 2012 elections to run for supervisor of elections in a crowded fields which was won outright in the primary by the incumbent, Anne McFall.
Internet newspaper's impression of the candidates' responses to Patchett's questions
While Gailey and Kelly appeared on the mark in their responses, Northey was evasive, even giving a phony excuse of soft sand as a reason for moving quickly with land purchases on the beach, using ECHO funds without even consulting the ECHO advisory board. Northey wants cars off the beach for hotels.
It should be noted that Headline Surfer® favors Cusack over Northey in the Nov. 4 elections with a formal endorsement in the works. Endorsements are also being prepared for Gailey and Kelly, too.
FAST FACTS: Headline Surfer afiliation with Volusia Tax Reform
• Headline Surfer® enjoys a positive friendship with Volusia Tax Reform. Co-founder Maureen France assisted with the public candidate debates Headline Surfer® sponsored and moderated in Oak Hill in June for the at-large council and district 3 races. Incumbent Deb Denys was a no-show in the district 3 debate the first night and Northey wss a no-show in the at-large debate the following night.
• Headline Surfer® endorsed Margie Patchett for the at-large seat in the 2010 general elections.
• Volusia Tax Reform member Ed Connor of Ormond Beach writes an occasional community column for Headline Surfer®
Previous recent segments of The Sunday Conversation
At-large Councilwoman Joyce Cusack: Nemesis Pat Northey needs to clean own doorstep before trying to sweep her's
The Sunday Conversation: Karen Foxman at home in courtroom; looks forward to seat on bench after primary win
Sunday Conversation: Lisa Gailey stands by her man in quest for County Council
Shadow Speaks: Deb Denys' big campaign money won't help her overcome foolishness by not showing up at debates