Hi, kids!

It’s time once again to turn a jaundiced eye toward the news and newsmakers of the day who, in my cynical opinion, either contributed to our quality of life or detracted from it in some significant way:

David v. Goliath – Small Town Values Run Deep in West Volusia

During a standing room only special meeting of the Lake Helen City Commission Monday evening, citizens of the small West Volusia community packed the chambers to support their police department.  The public outpouring came following a move to disband the agency and contract law enforcement services with the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office as a cost-cutting measure.  

As one 25-year resident said, “I wanted to show our local Lake Helen Police Department that we all do care and it’s very important that we also as a community have our words considered and that it’s not just up to the commissioners and all of them.”

Let me repeat that: Citizens turned out because they wanted the town’s police officers to know their service and sacrifice is valued.    

That doesn’t happen everywhere in this day and age…

I’m a small town guy. 

In my view, when it comes to government, the closer to those it serves the better. More accessible, accountable, and responsive – neighbors serving neighbors – the embodiment of our foundational democratic principle “…of the people, by the people, for the people.”

In small communities the butcher, the baker, and the candlestick maker – average citizens with a willingness to serve – throw their hat in the ring, stand for election, and work hard for little compensation to make a positive difference in their own hometown.   

Relatively speaking, the decisions they make are no less consequential than those of larger government entities – although civic issues, good and bad, are often amplified in the politically charged atmosphere of a small community.   

I spent the bulk of my life serving as a police officer with the City of Holly Hill, a wonderfully eccentric small community on the banks of the beautiful Halifax river, a place that graciously adopted me as one their own during a career that spanned three-decades.   

It was the quintessence of community-oriented policing – and resulted in lifelong friendships with those I served – and a sense of pride and personal satisfaction that only comes from a commitment to something greater than one’s own self-interests.

By the very nature of small town politics, elected and appointed officials must look their constituents in the eye, discuss civic issues face-to-face, calm fears, actually listen to the needs and suggestions of taxpayers, and wear a variety of hats to meet challenges with limited resources.

The result is a true sense of community – where folks look after one another – needs are met collectively and accomplishments celebrated communally. 

That collaborative approach to governance and service delivery results in a creative and cooperative dynamic.  Through up-close and personalized service, small town residents know that bigger isn’t necessarily better, especially during emergencies when they have the comfort of knowing their community’s first responders are standing watch.  

In fact, the unique culture and identity of each community in the mosaic of municipalities here on the “Fun Coast” is what sets them apart from the others, offering different civic and natural amenities, a quaint charm, and perhaps a slower pace of life from the homogenized “sameness” of large consolidated metropolitan areas like Jacksonville and Metro Dade and their often indifferent centralized governments.      

Look, I’m not knocking larger local, state, and federal agencies – I have dear friends and former colleagues across the spectrum.  Through those associations, I’ve learned that first responders everywhere are personally committed to those they serve with willingness, dedication, and selflessness – true professionals with the universal trait of putting their lives on the line for people they don’t even know.   

I simply believe that small communities providing their own essential services – and the sense of identity they garner – is something worth preserving.  Something that transcends the sterile and dispassionate ebb and flow of the budget process.

Like many of you, last week, I followed the unfortunate disagreement between Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood and the Town of Pierson – “Fern Capitol of the World” – a quaint community of ~1,500 in West Volusia that has been reliant on the Sheriff’s Office for many years.

For the past several years, the town contracted for “enhanced” law enforcement services from the Sheriff’s Office.   As I understand it, the agreement essentially amounted to one deputy dedicated to the town limits 12-hours each day, with normal services provided by zone deputies outside the contracted hours of service.

According to reports, under the current agreement, the town pays the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office $319,650 annually.  In addition, property owners in Pierson pay ad valorem taxes, some of which are also allocated to county law enforcement operations.

In fact, every property owner in the county pays into the “Law Enforcement Trust Fund,” regardless of whether they are served by a municipal police department, ostensibly to pay for countywide services like SWAT, advanced crime scene processing, etc.

Citing an increase in healthcare, pay raises, vehicles, pension, and other operational expenses, Sheriff Chitwood announced a 10% increase in his agency’s contract with Pierson beginning in November, bringing the town’s annual cost for enhanced services to $345,000. 

The Town of Pierson has a bare-bones annual budget of around $1.1 million, and town officials have suggested the increase is “excessive and well above inflation.”   The controversy seemed to explode suddenly and took Pierson Mayor Gray Leonhard – and many of the town’s residents – by surprise.

According to the News-Journal, on May 1, the town council had an open discussion regarding the possibility of negotiating a better price with the Sheriff’s Office. 

That’s when things took an adversarial turn:  

“Shortly after they started discussing the sheriff’s office policing contract, “in the middle of the meeting,” a deputy walked to the stage where the mayor was and asked him to check his messages, Leonhard said.

It appears that Chitwood had been informed about the town council’s discussion and sent a message to the mayor threatening to end policing quicker in Pierson, Leonhard said.

In the text message sent at 8:10 p.m. on May 1, a copy of which was provided to the News-Journal, Chitwood wrote: “Hey Mayor, thanks for the heads up on what you were about to do tonight. I don’t need 180 days. I’ll terminate the contract in 30.”

Chitwood also told the mayor in the text message that he will have to figure out what to do with all the property and evidence being held for the town of Pierson because “I’m not storing it without charging you.”

Wow.

Maybe things have changed since I retired, but I’m not sure dumping bags of evidence taken by sheriff deputies in criminal cases on the front steps of Pierson City Hall if they don’t pony up is legally, procedurally, or ethically an option – but that’s a question for State Attorney R. J. Larizza…

Sheriff Chitwood then dropped his parting words to the Town of Pierson: “Feel free to give me a call and discuss this but as far as I’m concerned, relationship is over. Good luck,” Chitwood wrote.”

In turn, Sheriff Chitwood followed up with a letter to residents of northwest Volusia which said, in part:

“Unfortunately, we have reached the point in our 34-year relationship where the Town Council has chosen to sever our contract and seek a lower level of law enforcement service instead.  The current contract for enhanced law enforcement services ends Nov. 12, 2025. It will be up to your Town Council to determine your course of action after that date.”

For his part, Mayor Leonhard countered that Sheriff Chitwood’s letter created undo “fear and confusion” in the small community. Now, both Sheriff Chitwood and Mayor Leonhard are accusing each other of failing to negotiate in good faith…

According to reports, during a press conference last month, Sheriff Chitwood slighted the Pierson Town Council as “inept,” and suggested the town was “defunding” law enforcement protection completely. 

According to an article by reporter Patricio Balona writing in the News-Journal last week, Mayor Leonhard pushed back against Sheriff Chitwood’s remarks:

“I am kind of upset about this because he’s told a bunch of lies. He sent letters to everybody in northwest Volusia County,” Leonhard said. “It was a letter that caused hate and discontent and caused confusion in the community as far as I am concerned.”

Many across Volusia County are wondering why Sheriff Chitwood, an incredibly powerful political personality, would find it necessary to take a ‘scorched earth’ approach to a relatively inconsequential “enhanced” service contract with a tiny community trying hard to be fiscally responsible?

It had a David v. Goliath quality that left some residents of Pierson feeling bullied by the very entity that should be looking out for them…

In Florida, it seems elected sheriffs have developed a friendly competition for who can be the ‘rootinist-tootinist tough guy’ around – some have taken to wearing ten-gallon hats, cowboy boots, six shooters, and hold tough talking press conferences – then use that well-crafted persona to build political popularity – and massive budgets.

It’s no secret that Sheriff Chitwood has carefully developed a reputation for berating “scumbags,” staging “perp walks” with criminal suspects, squaring up with his detractors, and cultivating a hardnosed image.   

I get it.  That’s politics, and few do it better than Mike Chitwood.

In my view, that acerbic approach should be reserved for the criminal element, not strapped small town officials trying hard to live up to their fiduciary responsibility and make ends meet without the massive and ever-expanding budget that Volusia County enjoys… 

That said, something incredibly special happened in Lake Helen on Monday.

Following a contentious meeting where residents made their feelings known, the Lake Helen City Commission listened to the fervent pleas of their residents and voted to keep their police department.  After hearing from their constituents, the elected officials realized that those on both sides of the badge care passionately about the tightknit community – and want to preserve those civic attributes that are most important to them.

Here’s hoping Sheriff Chitwood and Pierson officials can gain a mutual understanding, and work cooperatively to find common ground that permits residents to sleep comfortably knowing their community is adequately protected at a price they can afford.

Volusia County Council – Machiavellianism on Parade

By all accounts Niccolò Machiavelli was a piece of work – a Florentine politician, diplomat, early political scientist, and author of The Prince – and clearly a role model for many modern day bureaucrats and politicians…  

Most remember Machiavelli for his adaptation of the tactics necessary for a ruler to survive in politics, and his belief that those who were most successful engaged in deception, treachery, and criminal acts.

As a result, Machiavellianism refers to “…a personality trait characterized by manipulativeness, deceitfulness, high levels of self-interest, and a tendency to see other people as means to an end.”

Look, I may be a rube, but I’m not naïve.   

Neither are you.  

Spitefulness has become a requisite trait for politicians at all levels of government.  The instinctive ability to employ vindictive and mean-spirited strategies in slash-and-parry style to gain the political advantage by any means necessary.  The capacity to justify the means, however unscrupulous, when required to achieve and hold power.

Sound familiar?

Political might make’s it right.  Power with impunity.  Decisions without repercussions.  

Whoever has the gold makes the rules…

Last week, the Volusia County Council undertook the decennial task of selecting the 2026 Charter Review Commission – fifteen registered voters selected from a list of those who took the time to volunteer – a chance to influence substantive changes to our governing document and make county government more effective, efficient, and responsive to those who pay the bills.

At least that’s the noble concept behind it. 

The reality is far different…   

Every decade, the charter commission is carefully stacked with special interests, heavily weighted toward Volusia’s “Old Guard,” those backslapping representatives of the “good ole’ boys club,” to include former elected officials, business and insurance executives, real estate interests, and a small minority of us hoi polloi to keep up appearances.   

By imperial design, nothing changes.

(You can review the Volusia County’s Charter here: https://tinyurl.com/mpeandrc )

Last week, the selection process devolved into another dysfunctional shit show of abject pettiness when our squabbling elected dullards set about besmirching the motivations of residents who volunteered, stacking the deck, with (per usual) the majority ensuring that Chairman Jeff Brower was publicly humiliated like the castrated cur they portray him to be.

(Maybe if Chairman Brower keeps voting with them, acquiescing to their pet projects, and making nice-nice they’ll let him be part of the “clique” before he rides off into political obscurity?)  

In an article by Sheldon Gardner writing in The Daytona Beach News-Journal, we learned that Florida Senate candidate Jason Voelz is exposing the process for what it is after his nomination was rejected (by his political opponent) last week:

“A man who was rejected for a spot on the Volusia County Charter Review Commission is claiming he was the victim of a conflict of interest, and the Volusia County Council may have violated state ethics laws.

Jason Voelz is a candidate for the 2026 Florida Senate District 8 race. And so is Council member Jake Johansson, who voted against appointing him along with four other members of the seven-member Council on Tuesday, Aug. 5.

“He (Johansson) should have just stepped aside and said, ‘I’m not participating in that one,'” Voelz said.

Three of the councilmen who voted against Voelz have donated to Johansson’s campaign, according to records. County Council Chairman Jeff Brower and District 4 Councilman Troy Kent voted for him. Brower nominated Voelz for the role.

“The involvement of a political opponent in the nomination process, coupled with public statements indicating political motivations, raises serious questions about adherence to these ethical standards (in Florida law),” he stated in a letter to the Council and the News-Journal.”

I guess some people just can’t accept, “That’s the way we do it here, boy.”

For his part, Councilman David “No Show” Santiago also put the boots to Voelz, claiming “I don’t think his commentary reflects the values that this Council necessarily would support in strategies on how to effectively communicate and get things done.”

Which is rich coming from Mr. Santiago – in my view the most self-serving, disingenuous, and manipulative marionette in that gross bimonthly political puppet show that passes for a public meeting…

In another caustic exchange quoted by the News-Journal, we see the outsized role insider politics plays in the selection process, and why residents of Volusia County who value their reputation volunteer for appointment to advisory positions at their own risk:

“Another nominee of Brower’s failed to gain enough support: Joel Paige, a New Smyrna Beach resident and retired fireman. District 3 Councilman Danny Robins said Paige isn’t qualified for the role, and Robins got into a back-and-forth exchange with Brower over the issue.

“Imagine Elon Musk just hiring anybody to send rockets into space … you know what I mean?” Robins said.

“This is just totally unfair to this man,” Brower said.

Paige called councilmembers “a bunch of clowns” who do the bidding of developers.

“Brower’s the only serious person on the Council,” Paige said.

Amy Munizzi, who made it onto the Charter Review Commission after Johannsson suggested her as the collective appointee, received criticism from Brower.

“If there’s anybody that’s argumentative and radical, it’s her,” Brower said, adding that he believed she and her husband are developers.

Munizzi said in a phone interview that her husband is a general contractor, but she is not involved in the business.

“I think it’s unfortunate that the word developer is being used as a dirty word,” she said.

Munizzi is president of the DeLeon Springs Community Association. She supported Dye, Brower’s opponent, in the 2024 race for county chairman.”

Welp.  There you have it, folks.  

I don’t know anything about Jason Voelz or his candidacy for the Florida Senate – but it appears he just got an up-close-and-personal look at the way ones jelly bread lands when he dares challenge the stagnant status quo in Volusia County.  

It shouldn’t be this way.  But it is. 

Here’s hoping Mr. Voelz makes good on his threat to explore “…all legal options to address this matter, including filing a formal complaint with the Florida Commission on Ethics and pursuing any other remedies available under Florida law.”

In my view, it is high time someone steps forward with the courage to stand tall for the needs of Volusia County taxpayers over the greed and influence of controlling special interests.

Quote of the Week

“The construction on Granada Boulevard in Ormond Beach from U.S. 1 east to A1A has caused dangerous and hazardous risks for every driver,” Miller said. “Six-inch concrete obstructions on Granada Boulevard probably there to slow down traffic by moving vehicles, weaving left and right, and driving lanes that have been reduced in size, have caused accidents and damage to many vehicles. … Every bit of this Granada Boulevard project has to be one of the worst ever conceived by FDOT.”

–Ormond Resident Marvin Miller, as excerpted from the Ormond Beach Observer, “FDOT to remove some curb extensions, chicanes in Ormond Beach’s downtown,” Tuesday, August 12, 2025

The Florida Department of Transportation has done something area activists and politicians have been attempting for decades – harnessing the anger and angst of Halifax area residents with a common focus of demanding better.  

They succeeded. 

Residents and business owners are unified in their utter distain for the $20.5 million abomination that is FDOT’s A-1-A roadway project – and the $9.2 million “obstacle course” that is now east/west Granada Boulevard – ostensibly engineered to “encourage safer driving speeds and enhance pedestrian safety.”

Bullshit.

This one’s a whopper of a five-alarm foul-up – one of those “only in government” fiascos – where bureaucrats analyze what works, conduct expensive engineering studies, investigate ways to expedite traffic, alleviate congestion, and enhance pedestrian safety – then do the exact opposite.

In recent weeks, motorists have noticed some ‘modifications’ to the new slalom course on A-1-A and Granada Boulevard – marked with oddly placed “bulb-outs,” chicanes, and concrete curb extensions along the shoulder (which in several spots resulted a trash-collecting gutter between the curb and the impediment?) – some of which have now been removed and replaced with temporary orange traffic barrels.  

Having travelled A-1-A for most of my life, what FDOT has done to the traffic lanes both north and south of Granada Boulevard boggles the mind. 

In fact, most residents who use A-1-A for daily transportation have been left scratching their heads – that slack-jawed “WTF?” moment we’ve all had – especially at a time when our area is experiencing increased traffic congestion from all points of the compass.

According to a report in The Daytona Beach News-Journal last week, “Some business owners say the roadwork is steering customers away from them, particularly with new medians that force motorists to drive beyond their intended target and then do U-turns to reach their destination.”

To their credit, unlike many government projects where unanticipated consequences are ignored and work continues regardless of negative outcomes, in this case, due to the frequency of complaints fielded by FDOT, changes are now being made to correct mistakes.

For instance, Daytona Beach restauranteur Christos Mavronas recently told WFTV-9 that the modifications made it difficult for customers to access his business:

“About 50 percent of our business disappeared because of this median,” said Christos Mavronas. Owner Christos Mavronas initially expressed concerns about the work with us in February and again in June. Two months later, his efforts for change have been successful.

“They approved my request to give me my access back. This is huge news for the entire community of Daytona Beach. We are getting our traffic access back,” said Mavronas.”

According to reports, at present, the changes are in the “design phase,” and FDOT doesn’t yet have an estimate for the cost of necessary construction revisions. 

Hey, maybe the third time’s a charm, right?  

As Mr. Mavronas explained to WFTV, “It’s very important that we speak up for our rights and for what we want.” 

Damn straight, Mr. Mavronas.  Well said.  

And Another Thing!

“In Volusia County, council members this week voted to request changes (to SB-180) for next year’s legislative session.

Deltona City Commissioner Dori Howington doesn’t want to wait until next year to have Tallahassee work on the issue.

“What’s happening is, we’re seeing lawyers lining up to basically attack ordinances that developers have not liked seeing implemented, and as a result, the lawsuits are stacking up against us,” she said. “Anything that you do regarding land use, building codes — anything can be challenged.”

–Deltona City Commissioner Dori Howington, as quoted by reporter Mitch Perry writing in the Florida Phoenix, “Opposition grows to Florida law designed to improve disaster recovery,” Friday, August 8, 2025

Despite whining from some handwringing shills on elected councils and commissions across the state – mealy-mouth crybabies spreading fear over which cudgel Gov. Ron DeSantis will use to punish their city or county if they refuse to sellout their residents – an increasing number of Florida cities and counties are finding the courage to righteously fight back against the sneakily intended effects of SB-180. 

The law, camouflaged as a disaster recovery measure, gives real estate developers carte blanche to challenge any reasonable local growth management regulations, circumvent planning processes, and retroactively hold local governments hostage with statutorily authorized lawsuits.   

With several Florida cities and counties now considering a lawsuit to challenge the expansive provisions of the law, even its sponsor, Florida Senator Nick DiCeglie, has admitted the language is “very broad.”

As no doubt intended…

In my view, business editor Clayton Park of The Daytona Beach News-Journal recently brought our collective predicament into stark perspective when he published a poignant photograph depicting the opening gashes of the I-95/Pioneer Trail interchange this week.   

One image depicted a lone cattle egret literally staring down a bulldozer as it churned the landscape into a black muck to make way for one very wealthy and influential man’s vision of “progress.”

Not much moves me anymore, but that single photograph summed up what many claustrophobic residents of Volusia County feel each time they see more malignant sprawl inching ever closer to irreplaceable natural places like Doris Leeper Preserve…

Environmental activists valiantly opposed the controversial transportation project – which was mysteriously “expedited by more than a decade” – to accommodate large-scale residential development in the Port Orange/New Smyrna Beach area.  Once complete, many experts believe that foul polluted runoff from the interchange will result in the slow destruction of the endangered Spruce Creek watershed and its incredibly biodiverse habitat.

With the permits now rubber stamped by state and federal environmental “regulators” and the roar of site preparation underway, there is no going back now…

In my view, the Pioneer Trail interchange will stand as a monument to everything that is wrong with Florida’s pernicious pay-to-play system, where the “rich and powerful” get what they want – when they want it – and the prioritization of infrastructure, environmental protections, and the very real fears of existing residents mean nothing when the big money moves.

That’s the way it is here in the Biggest Whorehouse in the World… 

Vote like your quality of life depends upon it.

That’s all for me.  Have a great weekend, y’all!