Ormond Beach, FL – The mayor of one of Volusia County’s largest cities is aiming straight for the top seat on the County Council.
In a recent appearance on WNDB’s Marc Bernier program, Ormond Beach Mayor Ed Kelley announced that he’s going to challenge incumbent Chairman Jason Davis instead of District 4 Representative Doug Daniels in the November 2016 election.
Kelley – who, like Davis, is a registered Republican – filed in July to run against Daniels and former Holly Hill mayor Roy Johnson, but he told Bernier he had been thinking about making this move for some time because people kept asking him to challenge Davis instead of Daniels.
“I felt it was time,” Kelley added. “I’ve got the experience. I’ve got the record.”
Kelley admitted that he was reconsidering politics because he wasn’t sure he’d have the time to dedicate himself to the job properly, but he eventually decided to go for Davis’ seat with his wife’s blessing after she initially stood against it.
“Looking at some of the things that have happened on the County Council, maybe [it’s]where I can be more effective bringing the county and the cities together,” Kelley stated.
Kelley – whose son Brian makes up half of the country music group Florida-Georgia Line – has been Ormond Beach’s mayor since 2010.
The 72-year-old has also served 2 separate stints on the Ormond Beach City Commission as well as roles on the Volusia Council of Governments and the Roundtable of Volusia County Elected Officials.
Another Volusia County Mayor – Orange City’s Tom Laputka – is also running for Davis’ seat. It pays $49,000 yearly and the winner would serve for 4 years.
Current Daytona Beach state representative Dwayne Taylor also filed initially to run for VCC Chairman, but he’s since withdrawn and will run instead for the US House seat being vacated by Ron DeSantis.
No matter what happens in November 2016, there will be at least 1 new member on the Volusia County Council. District 2’s Josh Wagner is term-limited and cannot run again.
Daytona Beach resident Willie Kimmons – a career educator – is running against Daytona Beach Shores Councilwoman Billie Wheeler for Wagner’s seat.
Ed Kelley
Copyright 2015 Southern Stone Communications.