SW Volusia a key battleground in re-drawn 6th congressional district in 2016
DELTONA, Fla. --Though it is the furthest of Volusia County's cities away from the curling waves and hard sands of the World's Most Famous Beach®, the City of Deltona nonetheless is the largest of the 16 incorporated municipalities in Volusia County in terms of population. And it is here where 6th Congressional GOP candidate and frontrunner Adam Barringer has won the endorsement of its longstanding mayor, John Masiarczyk.
And just to the north of Deltona lies Orange City, much smaller geographically and population-wise, and its municipal leader, Mayor Tom Laputka also has endorsed Barringer for Congress.
With the early favorite, Sandy Adams, who served one term in Congress, having suspended her campaign on the eve of Thanksgiving due to a personal health issue, Barringer, 49, the ex-New Smyrna Beach mayor and former head of the Volusia Council of Governments, assumed the frontrunner status with Adams bowing out, though, there's a chance she could return. Even if Adams does, Barringer has a commanding lead in campaign financing.
Barringer's main competitor on the Republican side is Ormond Beach Realtor GG Galloway of Ormond Beach, a newcomer to elected office at any level.
Galloway has yet to receive endorsement from any of the remaining mayors. Whether he or Barringer receives the endorsement of Ormond Beach Mayor Ed Kelley remains to be seen as he's also a Republican, who is challenging fellow GOPer Jason Davis of Pierson in the non-partisan race for Volusia County Chair as is Orange City's Laputka.
In addition to the mayors of Deltona and Orange City, Barringer also has been endorsed by the mayors of eight other Volusia County municipalities, including Bob Apgar of DeLand, Harry Jennings of Daytona Beach Shores, John Penny of Holly Hill, George Locke of South Daytona, Allen Green of Port Orange, Michael Ignasiak of Edgewater, Douglas Gibson of Oak Hill and Jim Hathaway from his hometown of New Smyrna Beach.
That leaves Daytona Beach, DeBary, Lake Helen, Pierson, Ponce Inlet and the aforementioned Ormond Beach up for grabs as far as endorsements.
Endorsements of mayors is important because they are the closest level to local voters. And in this congressional race where Barringer is the popular former five-year mayor of New Smyrna Beach, having secured endorsements from the Deltona and Orange City mayors is critical to serving as an ambassador to local folks as to why the candidate is running and what it means for that particular community.
Here is what Laputka said in his endorsement of Barringer: “The congressional redrawing of the CD6 to include all of Volusia County is good news and is made all the better by the inclusion of Adam Barringer as our Congressional representative.
Laputka continued: As a fellow mayor, I endorse Adam Barringer for Congress. Mayors work every day with budgets, with employees, with policy agendas and also many unexpected emergencies. Most importantly, mayors work with the people they represent."
Laputka added: "During his time as mayor of New Smyrna Beach, Mayor Adam Barrringer advanced his hometown with innovative ideas and sensible fiscal stewardship. The Mayor’s Fitness Challenge developed by Adam helped the residents within the whole of New Smyrna Beach and Volusia County to become healthier and encouraged personal responsibility. The quality of life, cost of living and fiscal well being of New Smyrna Beach all improved under Adam Barringer’s strong and thoughtful leadership.”
Orange City Mayor Tom Laputka, shown here, on his endorsement of Adam Barringer for Congress: "During his time as mayor of New Smyrna Beach, Mayor Adam Barrringer advanced his hometown with innovative ideas and sensible fiscal stewardship. The Mayor’s Fitness Challenge developed by Adam helped the residents within the whole of New Smyrna Beach and Volusia County to become healthier and encouraged personal responsibility. The quality of life, cost of living and fiscal well being of New Smyrna Beach all improved under Adam Barringer’s strong and thoughtful leadership.”
And Deltona Mayor John Masiarczyk in his endorsement said: "I support Adam Barringer for Congress because I believe he possesses all the qualities necessary to represent our area."
Masiarczyk continued: "I have had the privilege to work with him in the past and his experience as a fellow mayor makes him well qualified for this position. He represented his city of New Smyrna Beach with a great deal of professionalism and improved the quality of life for their residents. He'll do the same for this district."
Deltona Mayor John Masiarczyk, shown here, on his endorsemernt of Adam Barringer for Congress: "I support Adam Barringer for Congress because I believe he possesses all the qualities necessary to represent our area. I have had the privilege to work with him in the past and his experience as a fellow mayor makes him well qualified for this position. He represented his city of New Smyrna Beach with a great deal of professionalism and improved the quality of life for their residents. He'll do the same for this district."
Masiarczyk added: "Please join me and many others in support for Adam as he moves on to thoughtful and experienced leadership in his new role as our congressman."
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Posted Fri, 2015-12-18 05:01
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