By Barb Shepherd and Jen Horton
posted Aug 25, 2008 - 8:33:51am
State Attorney
ALL VOTERS must choose between incumbent John Tanner of Flagler Beach and St. Augustine attorney R.J. Larizza to serve as state attorney for the Seventh Judicial Circuit. Both men are Republicans. Since no one else is running, they are in a universal primary; all registered voters in Volusia County can participate.
The Seventh Judicial Circuit covers four counties: St. Johns, Putnam, Flagler and Volusia.
Tanner, who served with the Green Berets in the U.S. Army, was as a prosecutor for more than 20 years. He wants both the state and county to invest in "strict but alternate treatments" for drug offenders, and is running on his record as the administrator of a successful State Attorney's Office.
Larizza, who is in private law practice, worked at the State Attorney's Office 1996-2002. After Tanner tangled with Flagler County law enforcement over prisoner treatment at the Flagler Jail, Larizza was recruited to run by representatives of the law-enforcement profession, and those groups have endorsed him. He hopes to improve relations between law enforcement and the State Attorney's Office
Campaign contributions
John Tanner — $233,877.87
J.R. Larizza — $71,821.47
Representative to U.S. Congress for District 7
DEMOCRATS must choose between Faye Armitage of St. Johns County, a former economics professor at Valencia Community College in Orlando, and Clyde Malloy of Ormond Beach, a retired public-safety officer. Both are making their first run for public office.
In the Nov. 4 general election, the winner of this Democratic nomination will face incumbent District 7 representative John Mica, a Republican.
Congressional Districts 3 and 7 cover much of West Volusia (see District 24 race). Incumbent District 3 Rep. Corrine Brown, a Democrat, has no challenger this year.
Campaign contributions
Faye Armitage —$22,022
Clyde Malloy — $26,757
Note: Whoever wins will face a well-funded opponent. So far, Mica has $950,785 in his campaign war chest.
There is no REPUBLICAN primary.
Representative to U.S. Congress for District 24
DEMOCRATS must choose between Clint Curtis of Titusville, an elections activist and former computer programmer, and Suzanne Kosmas of New Smyrna Beach, a real-estate developer who formerly represented Southeast Volusia in the Florida Legislature.
In the Nov. 4 general election, the winner of this Democratic nomination will face the winner of the Republican primary. Gaurav Bhola of Orlando, no party affiliation, will also be on the ballot for this seat Nov. 4.
Portions of the eastern part of West Volusia are in congressional District 24.
Campaign contributions
Clint Curtis — $73,466
Susan Kosmas — $1,210,035
REPUBLICANS must choose between incumbent Rep. Tom Feeney of Oviedo, a career politician who previously served in the Florida Legislature and was Jeb Bush's running mate in the 1994 Florida gubernatorial race, and Jason Paul Davis of Port Orange, a recent graduate of Daytona State College who served in the U.S. Army 1980-93 and is making his first run for elected office, after being involved in several political campaigns.
In the Nov. 4 general election, the winner of this Republican nomination will face the winner of the Democratic primary. Gaurav Bhola of Orlando, no party affiliation, will also be on the ballot for this seat on Nov. 4.
Portions of the eastern part of West Volusia are in congressional District 24.
Campaign contributions
Jason Paul Davis — $12,364
Tom Feeney —$1,499,749
Representative to the Florida Legislature for District 27
DEMOCRATS must choose between former DeLand City Commissioner Terry E. Dilligard Jr., current Daytona Beach City Commissioner Dwayne Taylor, and Public Defender's Office investigator Jake Ross of Daytona Beach.
Dilligard has been endorsed by the incumbent legislator, Joyce Cusack of DeLand. He says his key issues are true tax reform, a strong commitment to education funding, lessening the cost of homeowner's insurance, and economic development and health care.
Taylor said the economy is his chief concern; he has received strong financial support from the East Volusia business community. He promises weekly updates when the Florida Legislature is in session.
Ross was born in DeLand and was a DeLand police officer before moving to Daytona Beach and going to work for the Public Defender's Office. His priorities are fighting crime and cutting the state budget in ways that won't hurt children, families and public education.
District 27 snakes across Volusia County from DeLand to Daytona Beach, encompassing largely African American and low-income neighborhoods. Cusack must give up her job representing the district because of term limits.
District 26 is the other DeLand-area district in the Florida Legislature. Republican Pat Patterson is the incumbent; he faces no challenger until the general election.
The other legislative districts that serve parts of West Volusia are 21, 28 and 33. There are no primaries in these districts.
Campaign contributions
Terry Dilligard Sr. — $12,626
Jake Ross — $12,215
Dwayne Taylor — $76,327.52
Representative to the Florida Legislature for District 21
REPUBLICANS must choose between assistant State Attorney Chris France, health-care center administrator Patricia Freeman and architect and pastor Charles Van Zant.
France, an Ormond Beach native, lives in Palatka. His main concerns for the district are growth, property taxes and education. He believes the three items are interconnected, and says the property-tax structure must be modified.
Freeman lives in Crescent City and runs The Health Center of Palatka. She supports renewable energy, limited offshore drilling and immigration reform and opposes local government regulatory taxes that can hurt agriculture.
Charles Van Zant lives in Keystone Heights. He is the owner of Van Zant Associates, and pastor of Gospel Lighthouse International in Gainesville. Van Zant wants to protect the Second Amendment, preserve Rodman Reservoir, reduce taxes and create new jobs.
District 21 covers the northwest corner of Volusia County, all of Putnam County and parts of Marion and Clay County.
The winner of this Republican primary will face Democrat Linda Myers on Nov. 4. Incumbent District 21 Rep. Joe Pickens, a Republican, must give up the seat because of term limits.
Campaign contributions
Charles Van Zant — $73,620
Patricia Freeman — $87,126.24
Chris France — $140,959.18
West Volusia Hospital Authority Seat 1
ALL VOTERS must chose between incumbent John D. Adams, business coach Tracy Lunquist and educator Voloria Manning to serve in Seat 1 on the West Volusia Hospital Authority. The race is nonpartisan, and the district covers all of West Volusia, so all registered voters can cast ballots.
Adams, who lives in Deltona, wants to maintain and expand the Hospital Authority's services to the DeLand and Deltona areas. Adams has not opened a campaign account and is not actively campaigning.
Lunquist of DeLand, a business coach and 2007 graduate of Leadership DeLand, wants to increase public awareness of Hospital Authority activities, and work on new kinds of funding for the agency that could supplement or reduce property taxes.
Manning wants the most needy citizens — people in nursing homes and hospitals — to be treated "fairly and with love." She has taught physical education and health at elementary and middle schools in Volusia County.
If one of the three gets more than 50 percent of the vote Aug. 26, he or she wins the seat. If not, the top two vote-getters will run off Nov. 4. Also on Nov. 4, West Volusia voters will choose between Teresa K. Apgar and William C. Hall to serve as the Hospital Authority commissioners in Seat 2.
The Hospital Authority was created to raise money via property taxes to pay for health care for residents who cannot afford to pay.
Campaign contributions
John Adams — None; not campaigning
Tracy Lunquist — $425
Voloria Manning — $322.87
Volusia Soil and Water Conservation District Group 2
Soil and Water District races are nonpartisan, and the district covers all of Volusia County, so all registered voters may cast ballots in all three races. The agency's mission is to oversee the spending of state and federal money that's available for soil and water conservation, and to promote conservation activities.
Voters must choose between incumbent Michele Moen of Osteen, former board member Earl Ziebarth of Pierson, and political newcomer Christopher Lyszczarz of DeLand.
Moen wants to restore funding for the Soil and Water District, educate citizens about the 100-year flood plain, and promote locally-grown food. She was a paralegal in South Florida. When she moved to unincorporated Volusia County 10 years ago, she became involved with environmental organizations.
Ziebarth, a lifelong resident of West Volusia, also wants to restore funding for the Soil and Water District. He seeks to protect and preserve the St. Johns river and Indian River Lagoons. Ziebarth was in the U.S. Army for 31 years, served in the Vietnam War, and received numerous medals an for his service.
Lyszczarz, a juvenile corrections officer, lives in DeLand with his two children. He said he's an average guy who wants to make a difference. Lyszczarz said he gets irritated with the lack of enforcement for lawn watering. If elected, he wants to learn about the district and make his decisions without any political baggage.
Fundraising
Earl Ziebarth — $175
Michele Moen — $0
Christopher Lyszczarz —$0
You can view the full campaign finance reports for federal elections at the Federal Election Commission, State elections at the Florida Division of Electionsand local elections at Volusia County Department of Elections.
For more information about the candidates, visit our VOTE 2008 online voter's guide.
Reader Comments
The comments posted below are posted by readers, not by The Beacon staff. These comments express the views and opinions of the authors, and not the administrators, moderators or webmaster. The comments forum is governed by these rules. Please use the report abuse link if you find offensive comments.
Faye Armitage - because she's the real deal. Malloy won't even answer questions. Lyszczarz because he is an average guy!
I'm voting for Clyde Malloy and you should too!
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