POLITICS

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Ellen Darden has withdrawn her name as an announced candidate for the Volusia County Council seat representing Southeast Volusia.

Darden notified NSBNews.net in an e-mail, stating in part: "I have made the decision to end my candidacy for the District 3 seat on the County Council."

She added, "After a number of weeks in discussion with my husband about this race, I have made the decision not to continue.

NSBNews.net photo by Henry Frederick / Volusia County Councilman Frank Bruno is tops in campaign contributions in the 2012 elections in his bid for state senator with $118,700 as of Friday, and NSBNews.net is first with the story.

DELAND — Frank Bruno's campaign for state senate announced today that the Democrat has generated a six-figure haul in campaign contributions from hundreds of donors across the voting district.

The total as of 1 p.m. today is $118,700 for Volusia County Council Chairman Bruno in his race race for the seat held by term-limited Evelyn Lynn. His likely Republican opponent is Republican State Rep. Dorothy Hukill.

“The outpouring of support from hundreds of supporters in this community sends a strong message to Tallahassee: it’s time for a change in leadership,” Bruno told NSBNews.net.

Ellen Darden, president of the New Smyrna Beach Board of Realtors, is making a second consecutive run for the district 3 seat on the Volusia County Council. At this point, her competition would come from New Smyrna Beach Vice Mayor and Commissioner Jim Hathaway, shown in the smaller photo

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Ellen Darden announced today that she is running in the 2012 election for the County Council seat held by outgoing Joie Alexander, who is not seeking re-election to that post.

Darden said she spoke with the incumbent before throwing her name in the ring for the position that represents Southeast Volusia. “I have spoken to Councilwoman Alexander, and she is definitely not running again for the District 3 seat,” Darden said.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH – Longtime New Smyrna Beach Commissioner and Vice Mayor Jim Hathaway announced Tuesday his candidacy for the district 3 seat on the Volusia County Council seat held by incumbent Joie Alexander, who is not seeking re-election.

“I have spent the last 17 years of my life dedicated to common sense government, smart budgeting, and responsible growth in New Smyrna Beach,” Hathaway said. “After consulting with my family and deep consideration, I feel the time is right to bring my experience and knowledge to a broader citizenry."

Hathaway, 58, has been elected four times as a commissioner by the citizens of New Smyrna Beach, during which his peers on the commission have tabbed him as vice mayor five times. He has represented the City of New Smyrna Beach on various boards, councils, and committees through the Florida League of Cities including serving on the board of directors.

Hathaway is also the current vice president of the Volusia League of Cities and serves on its executive committee. He was formerly a trustee of the New Smyrna Beach Fire Pension Board.

Born and raised in New Smyrna Beach, Hathaway was a 1971 graduate of New Smyrna Beach High School

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- I remember well how things were in 1991. The USSR imploded and the United States was on top of the world.

DAYTONA BEACH SHORES, Fla.  -- It is undeniably true, as several of our Republican leaders have said, that we do not have a revenue problem, we have a spending problem. In other words, government spending must be drastically reduced. Yet the Obama Administration continues to spend as if there were no end of money, driving our economy toward bankruptcy and the dollar toward collapse.

DAYTONA BEACH SHORES, Fla. -- Monday, Jan. 31, 2011, will go down in history as the day federal judge Roger Vinson moved the nation one very important step closer to a return to constitutional government and the defeat of Obama’s attempt to impose his vision of a leftist government fully in control of the lives and liberties of the people.

DAYTONA BEACH SHORES, Fla. -- The first pass of the delicate political minuet spawned by the Republican victories on November 2nd is behind us.

NSBNEWS.net and VolusiaNews.net provide 24/7 online-media coverage for a 21st-century world

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- First-term Congresswoman Suzanne Kosmas conceded two hours after the polls closed in Tuesday's general elections with the huge Republican-voter wave of discontent in Washington that glided Sandy Adams of Orange County to an easy victory.

With all 241 voting precincts reporting in the 24th congressional district that comprises parts of Volusia, Orange, Seminole and Brevard counties, Adams, a former sheriff's deputy and state legislator, received nearly 60 percent of the votes, 145,801 to 98,491.

Despite the crushing defeat, Kosmas was upbeat at an otherwise somber Democratic headquarters on Canal Street where she thanked supporters, and with class, issued a statement praising Adams for the big win.

"First I would like to thank all my supporters and all who have worked so hard in this election. I truly appreciate all that you have done to support our fight for the priorities of Central Florida.

"Earlier this evening, I called Sandy Adams to congratulate her on a hard fought victory. America is the greatest country in the world because we have the greatest democracy in the world, and I have the utmost respect for our political process.

NSBNEWS.net and VolusiaNews.net provide 24/7 online-media coverage for a 21st-century world

Joie Alexander 17,465 votes 56.04%

George Trovato 13,701 votes 43.96%

Total votes cast: 31,166

PORT ORANGE -- Joie Alexander was ecstatic with her convincing victory over former Deltona attorney George Trovato for the district 3 seat on the Volusia County in Tuesday's general elections.