A good night for Ben Johnson: re-election, and Deltona contract

By Jen Horton
BEACON STAFF WRITER

posted Nov 5, 2008 - 2:01:31am

Ben Johnson will remain the sheriff of Volusia County, per the will of more than 73 percent of the voters.

Johnson was appreciative.

"I'm just very pleased that the people of Volusia County wanted me to be their sheriff again," he said.

Johnson said he had been watching the Deltona referendum, and was pleased to note it failed: Deltona will keep the Sheriff's Office instead of creating its own police department.

"I'm pleased we're going to continue to be the police department for them," Johnson said.

Johnson won with 163,798 votes to challenger Kevin Vaughn's 59,213. Deltona voters turned down the city-police-department idea by 19,429 votes to 15,823, with all but 527 provisional ballots counted.

Johnson's challenger also was appreciative.

"I just appreciate all the support from all of the voters who voted for me," said Vaughn, a trooper with the Florida Highway Patrol.

Vaughn said money made a difference in his race.

"He outspent me at least 10-to-1," Vaughn said.

According to the Department of Elections Web site, Ben Johnson's campaign raised $192,345, while Vaughn's campaign war chest was $16,685.

Vaughn said all that additional money buys a lot of additional publicity, advertising, and campaign workers.

Vaughn said he is proud of his accomplishments, and said the campaign was a great experience.

"I'll be back in four years," he added.

— jen@beacononlinenews.com

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