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Our votes, not the Electoral College should be choosing our president

This election is a nail bitter and I truly hope it does not come down to the popular vote being ignored and the Electoral College making the choice for our president. I personally think that system should be abolished and I have read that it is slowly being done state by state.

Endorsement: Carl Persis for county chair

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Carl PersisORMOND BEACH -- With a victory in today's general elections, Carl Persis could finally emerge from the shadow of Frank Bruno and become the new face of Volusia County government.

Only one man stands between Persis and that eight-year wait for the non-partisan county chairmanship: Jason Davis. The registered Republican was the forgotten candidate from the moment qualifying ended and print media had its camera on power attorney Ted Doran.

Davis faced further humiliation when the Daytona Beach News-Journal teamed up with the Tiger Bay Club to host a debate and Davis was excluded. But Davis persevered.

Voting an 'intregal part of our freedom' so go vote

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NSB Mayor Adam BarringerMayor's Message
By Adam Barringer
Mayor of New Smyrna Beach
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NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Get out and Vote!

Why vote?

I asked this question to quite a few people as we entered into the campaign season and the answer was standard across the board, "Because it is my right, because we are a democracy, it is my civic responsibility, because I love our country, because we need change."

As you can imagine, there were a few others full of expletives.

As mayor, I believe everyone needs to vote and here ae the reasonds why:

1. All politics are local. Many of the local leaders who have a great impact on your daily lives are elected with narrow margins. Your vote definitely counts. (In 2009, 112 votes made the difference in my election).

Endorsement: No clear-cut choice between two enthusiastic candidates for Edgewater City Council, dist. 1

Newspaper Section

EDGEWATER -- The race for the Edgewater City Council dist. 1 seat offers a stark contrast in candidates: Christine Power, a political newcomer, and James Paul Brown, a former two-term councilman, who occupied this very seat for six years, from 1999 to 2005. 

Power, 44, has shown in interest in seeing a Community Redevelopment District set up along U.S. 1 to help spur economic development. Brown, 67, owns a nearby bookstore.

Endorsement: Mitt Romney for President of the United States

Mitt Romney in Ormond Beach back in MarchMitt Romney had one very important question to ask 5,000 supporters at an Ormond Beach lumber yard back in March: "Are you ready to send Barack Obama home from the White House?" The crowd roared back "Yes!"

We agree. The country needs a change in leadership. Ironically, it's Romney who exhibits the hope and change Obama promised four years ago in his run for the White House.