POLITICS

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Just like in the primary, New Smyrna Beach was No. 1 on the first day of early voting in advance of the Nov. 2 general elections.

The New Smyrna Beach Library had 495 voters, followed by the Daytona Beach Library with 436, the Ormond Beach Library with 411, the Ormond Beach Library with 410 and DeLand County Elections office with 274.

Orlando -- Today, following the announcement that there will be no cost of living adjustment for Social Security benefits next year, Congresswoman Suzanne Kosmas, D-New Smyrna Beach (FL-24), released the following statement:

Photos by Henry Frederick.

Republican U.S, hopeful Marco Rubio addresses an enthusiastic crowd Thursday in New Smyrna Beach.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Here is a sampling of the enthusiastic support by local residents and community leaders to Thursday's visit by Republicam U.S. Senate hopeful Marco Rubio to American Aero Services at the New Smyrna Beach Municipal Airport:

Margie Patchett, candidate for Volusia County Council at-large and founder of Volusia Tax Reform, goes over some campaign flyers with Rubio.

"He is wonderful. His message comes from his heart. He was speaker of the (Florida) house, when we took 17 buses up to Tallahassee in 2007, to push for reform measures. We need him in Washington. He's a true American -- a true conservative."

-- Margie Patchett

Far left file photo by Henry Frederick

Former Volusia County Council dist. 3 candidate Ellen Darden, shown far left, is livid with the story published Tuesday in the Daytona Beach News-Journal, "County Council candidate puts financial woes into public view," which takes dead aim at Volusia County Council at-large candidate Margie Patchett, shown here in the middle photo, which clearly favors her opponent, former state Rep. Joyce Cusack, shown far right.

Darden, who ran in the primary for the district 3 seat that has George Trovato and Joie Alexander squaring off in the November runoff, wrote a letter to the Daytona Berach newspaper regarding the bullseye on Parchett and sent a copy to NSBNEWS.net.  Here is Darden's letter:

Video and photos by Multimedia Editor Sera Frederick.

Congresswoman Suzanne Kosmas returns home Monday from Washington D.C. to announce to a jubilant crowd of supporters in New Smyrna Beach's Memorial Park that she has received a major endorsement from the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare. See our exclusive coverage in the video above and story and photos below.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Congresswoman Suzanne Kosmas didn't pull any punches in pledging to continue fighting for to strengthen and protect Social Security and Medicare as she accepted the endorsement Monday from the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare.

NSBNEWS.net photos by Henry Frederick.

Congresswoman Suzanne Kosmas, D-NSB, greets Sue Schouten, owner of Sonkran Thai Cuisine restaurant in South Daytona, at the NSB Farmers Market on Saturday in New Smyrna Beach. At left, Kosmas greets Schouten's children, Alexandra, 14, and Thomas, 11.

Kosmas' Republican challenger, Sandy Adams, wasn't there, but several of her campaign staffers were, all wearing T-shirts with her name on them.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- She wasn't sporting a campaign button or wearing a T-shirt with her name emblazoned on it. She wasn't even wearing a name tag. Congresswoman Suzanne Kosmas doesn't need any of that.

Her face is well known in the 24th district that encompasses parts of Volusia, Brevard, Seminole and Orange counties. And she certainly needs no introduction in New Smyrna Beach, where she is a native daughter.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- The results of two closely contested races in Tuesday's primary were upheld by weekend recounts that had Robert Sanders Jr. winning the county judge race and George Trovato receiving the second spot in a Nov. 2 runoff against County Council 43 primary winner Joie Alexander. NSBEWS.net will have wrap ups of both recounts and a recap of the 2010 primary elections in the next 48 hours. We'll also have a fresh blog from Peter Mallory and updated milestones.

NSBNEWS.net photos by Henry Frederick.

The machine recount of the primary race for county judge between incumbent Mary Jane Henderson and challenger Robert Sanders Jr., is expected to be completed later tonight.announced by 8 p.m.. At far left, county elections employees feed ballots into machines. Above, The thrtee-member Canvassing Board -- Supervisor of Elections Ann McFall, County Council Chairman Frank Bruno and Circuit Judge David Beck -- go over elections data at elections headquarters at the historic Volusia Coiunrty Courthouse in DeLand.

DELAND  -- The machine recount for the county judge race was dragging on longer than elections officials had hoped as 19-year incumbent Mary Jane Henderson and challenger Robert Sanders Jr., who was ahead by 53 votes following Tueesday's primary, were bunkered down.

CANDIDATE'S NOTEBOOK: School Board, Dist. 3 incumbent

Aug. 25, 2010

Thank you everyone!

We finished first last night and now it's on to November!! Thanks to those who helped in the campaign. Thanks for your dollars and your *time*.