Mayor Apgar won't run for Dist. 1

BEACON PHOTO/MARSHA MCLAUGHLIN
Not running — DeLand Mayor Bob Apgar will not run for the District 1 seat on the Volusia County Council.

By Barb Shepherd
BEACON STAFF WRITER

posted Feb 1, 2012 - 4:11:05pm

DeLand Mayor Bob Apgar put some rumors to rest Feb. 1 by announcing he will not run for the District 1 seat on the Volusia County Council.

Nor will he run for the elections-supervisor job or the county-chair position.

Apgar, 64, had been approached about running for all three jobs, which will be filled in this fall's elections, by residents who like his thoughtful, deliberate style on the DeLand City Commission.

Most often, he was heard to be considering the District 1 seat, which represents much of West Volusia, including DeLand, Lake Helen, Northwest Volusia, Orange City and part of DeBary.

"I'm humbled that so many people would urge me to take that step," Apgar said. "After careful consideration, I will not be a candidate. I will continue to serve the citizens of DeLand for the remainder of my term."

Apgar's mayoral term expires in 2014. He's in his 24th year on the DeLand City Commission, and has been mayor since 2001.

He would not close the door on a future candidacy for higher office, but for now, Apgar is anxious to be on board as the City of DeLand undertakes massive improvements to Earl Brown Park and renovates Spec Martin Memorial Stadium in preparation for Stetson University's 2013 revival of its collegiate football program.

Apgar said he thinks he could have made a difference as the District 1 representative, and would have enjoyed the challenges of serving not only DeLand, but all of District 1 and the county at large.

"I think I could have been a strong voice for District 1 on the County Council," he said.

Among his considerations were six grandchildren, one of them newborn and four of whom live out of state. Because of the geography of District 1, Apgar said, the job would have required an additional commitment of time that might otherwise be spent with family.

"It just wasn't the right time in my life to make that commitment," Apgar said.

Announced candidates for the District 1 job as of Feb. 1 are DeLand business owner Ronnie Mills and former DeLand City Commissioner Terry Dilligard.

— info@beacononlinenews.com

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