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:

Volusia County Schools: Rewarding Mediocrity

Official recognition is an important part of our personal and professional development, serving as a powerful tool for validation, motivation, and building self-confidence.  When deserved (and done properly), individual and unit honors can build organizational culture, morale, and esprit de corps.

After all, everyone enjoys having their efforts recognized in a formal way. 

Ensuring awards are earned and equitable is important because watered-down prizes or “participation trophy’s” – awards that are perceived as undeserved, used to celebrate mere involvement rather than successful contributions, or employed as a means of camouflaging serious issues – undermine trust, diminish the impact, and discourage others from striving for excellence.

This week, the Florida Department of Education announced that for the first time in its history Volusia Schools earned back-to-back “A” grades.  According to the FDOE website, the “grades” are calculated using 12 “components” with points for each added together and divided by the total number of available points to determine the percentage of points earned.

An “A” is considered just 62% of points or greater.  That’s interesting math.

Across Florida, 76% of schools earned an A or B grade.

Looks like everyone’s a winner… 

It doesn’t end there. 

Here in Volusia, during a period marked by embarrassingly stupid non-disclosure agreements for public employees, a righteous dressing down by state legislators during passage of Florida’s first School Board Member Bill of Rights to counter the dysfunction in Volusia, lingering questions of how graduation rates are calculated, claims that students who speak out at School Board meetings have been intimidated by administrators, recurrent payroll problems, internal/external communications issues, teacher morale, questionable land sales, etc., etc. – it appears the number and frequency of awards collected by Volusia County School Superintendent Carmen Balgobin and her coterie seems to be growing exponentially… 

For instance, Dr. Balgobin was named the 2025 Superintendent of the Year by the National Association of School Superintendents, and most recently claimed the 2026 Superintendent of the Year from something called the Florida Association for Career and Technical Education.

Earlier this month, Volusia County Schools received the Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Association of School Business Officials International for its most recent annual comprehensive financial report.

I’m surprised anyone in the finance department had time to accept the impressive accolade, considering that the district’s payroll and benefits program is an evolving shitshow – a shambolic implementation that has resulted in recurrent personal financial issues for staff – resulting in the School Board recently authorizing a $420,000 outside consultant to augment staff “…and examine various processes and create standard operating procedures.”

I thought that’s what we pay the award-winning Dr. Balgobin to do?

According to a recent report in the Ormond Beach Observer, Dr. Matt Kuhn, chief technology officer for the district (and recent winner of the 2026 Tech & Learning Innovative CTO Award), twisted those sour lemons into bureaucratic lemonade, explaining “The last time we implemented, we spent $7.8 million over four years, and were only able to implement half the ERP,” Kuhn said. “This time it’s a million dollars over two years, and still within budget, and still on time.”

I don’t make this shit up, folks… 

To her credit, District 4 School Board Member Donna Brosemer was the lone “No” vote, citing “There isn’t a month that goes by that we don’t hear about payroll problems in particular, and there never seems to be any accountability anywhere,” Brosemer said, adding that she would be voting against the contract as a “protest vote.”

Fortunately, we have Ms. Brosemer to speak on our behalf, because last week the district formally eliminated our ability to express ourselves on its public social media site. 

You read that right.

By apparent monarchical edict of Dr. Balgobin, the Volusia County Schools Facebook page noted that public comments have now been “disabled” and our communications will be limited to “official channels” only:

ACHTUNG!

“To better serve our students, families, and community, comments on the official Volusia County Schools Facebook page are disabled.

Volusia County Schools will continue to provide updates, information, and recognitions through its official communication channels. Only official Volusia County Schools channels represent the district. For questions or assistance, please contact the appropriate department using the information provided so we can respond as accurately and promptly as possible.”

I assume the district’s social media presence will now consist of playing “Everything is beautiful, in its own way,” on an endless audio loop… 

Something stinks in the Ivory Tower of Power in DeLand.

In my view, it is time for our elected oversight on the Volusia County School Board to get their heads out of their backsides, stop allowing the tail to wag the dog, demand accountability, and explain to Superintendent Balgobin their sworn obligation to ensure the people’s right to be heard isn’t capriciously blocked by a self-righteous bureaucracy with delusions of grandeur…

In my experience, an intuitive suspicion emerges among those who pay the bills when the disturbing issues we see with our own eyes don’t comport with the pap and fluff that oozes from spinmeisters in public information offices – or the gloating platitudes of senior officials’ intent on creating a flattering picture – regardless of hard evidence to the contrary.

Let’s face it, self-congratulatory accolades are meaningless; little more than a dull tool for professional climbers with an inflated opinion of themselves.  Especially when used to put critics in their place and marginalizing those meddlers who ask too many questions about the who, what, when, where, and why of things.    

The problem comes when senior administrators begin believing their own hype…

Perhaps we could all feel better about Dr. Balgobin’s groaning trophy case if we could get solid answers to how these supernaturally improved school grades and graduation rates were facilitated – and what an “A district” actually means in a time when mediocrity and dysfunction are so handsomely rewarded… 

Questions of “Election Tampering” in the Lost City of Deltona

Those of us who make a hobby watching what passes for politics and governance here on Florida’s “Fun Coast” understand the weird dynamics at play during an election season.  We live in a place where things are bizarre on a good day – but our ‘powers that be’ get downright slaphappy when the retention of power is at play.

Across social media, seasonal “influencers” are climbing out of hibernation, reanimating themselves for another shit-slinging brawl – playing their orchestrated role of tossing barbs and casting doubt – while the traditional “sign wars” heat up across the region. 

Can the dreaded ‘glossy mailers’ be far behind?

The Volusia County Council At-Large race recently took a telling turn when political newcomer Mike Poniatowski placed his campaign signs on a supporter’s lawn in Daytona Beach Shores. 

As it happens, Mr. Poniatowski’s opponent is Daytona Beach Shores Mayor Nancy Miller, who apparently took exception to the fact any DBS resident could possibly support anyone other than her, and promptly called the offending constituent – identifying herself as mayor – and explained that Poniatowski failed to obtain a city permit to place signs in the community.

Then Mayor Miller got to her ominous point…  

In a voicemail printed in the Ormond Beach Observer earlier this month, Miller is quoted:

“I’m the current mayor of Daytona Beach Shores… I see you have a Mike Poniatowski sign in your yard that’s running, actually as my opponent. In Daytona Beach Shores you need to get a permit as well as pay a fee, and he did not, so he’s going to be taking down the signs.

Miller goes on to say that she understands if the homeowner is supporting Poniatowski, but asks that “after all the work that we did together after the hurricanes … (I) hope you will support me.”

So, what happens if they don’t?

According to the report, Mr. Poniatowski believes Mayor Miller abused the power of her office for political gain (because she did), claiming “If she is willing to abuse the power of her current office to suppress a yard sign, voters deserve to ask: what will she do with more power?”

For her part, Miller believes Poniatowski’s indignation is overblown, but admits “In retrospect,” she said, “I probably should not have made that call.”

I agree…

We’ve come to expect outrageous tit-for-tat retaliatory melodrama – that’s part of the fun (for a masochist like me, anyway).  A delicate balancing act where both the allegation and response are carefully calculated to illicit the desired response.  That feint and parry is a big part of the back-alley tactics that pass for campaign strategy here on the “Fun Coast.”

However, the disturbing allegations of possible election tampering coming out of the Lost City of Deltona this week left many concerned about the integrity of the city’s internal qualification process… 

Trust me.  This isn’t ‘petty politics’ as usual. 

According to a troubling report by Mark Harper writing in The Daytona Beach News-Journal:  

“Mayoral candidate Maritza Avila-Vasquez, a city commissioner since 2018, and incumbent Commissioner Stephen Colwell, who is seeking reelection after serving since 2022, shared with The News-Journal copies of letters each received, dated June 25, and headed “NOTICE OF NON-QUALIFICATION.”

“Because the required qualifying papers were incomplete at the close of qualifying, you did not satisfy the qualifying requirements for candidacy for mayor for the Deltona City Commission,” the letter to Avila-Vasquez states. “Accordingly, the City Clerk’s Office will not certify you as a qualified candidate for mayor, and you will not be recognized as a qualified candidate for that office for the applicable election.”

I’m sorry – I want to make it clear – this is occurring in the City of Deltona, Florida, not Port-au-Prince… 

Apparently, Commissioners Avila-Vasquez and Colwell were asked to complete various iterations of qualifying paperwork after being told their original forms were “outdated.”

Then Avila-Vasquez was told she failed to “write the word VOLUSIA on a line requesting the name of her county,” while Colwell inadvertently checked the wrong box on a form after being called back for revisions three times.

Another mayoral candidate, Jason Volez, reported to the News-Journal that “…he has received a notice that his treasurer’s report is being grieved, although he has not received word that he has been disqualified.”

It appears everyone is out of step except incumbent Mayor Santiago Avila, Jr…

Adding to the politically orchestrated confusion, the News-Journal reports that Volusia County Supervisor of Elections Lisa Lewis “…learned of Avila-Vasquez’s disqualification too late for her name to be kept off vote-by-mail ballots. So when voters get their ballots for the Aug. 18 primary, they will get a notice that she is not qualified.”

However, on Monday, Supervisor Lewis issued a press release which said, in part, that she does “not have the independent authority to unilaterally remove a candidate from the ballot based solely on the City Clerk’s announcement of “non-qualification” after the qualifying period has ended and the candidate’s name is on the ballot.”

As such, “Candidates Vazquez and Colwell will therefore appear on the ballot unless a court order directs otherwise.”

In my view, that evenhandedness and commitment to fair play is what makes Supervisor Lisa Lewis the best in that often-controversial profession.  We’re fortunate to have her at the helm of Volusia County elections.

In my experience, the City Clerks I had the pleasure of working with during my career in municipal service always remained apolitical, as their role required, avoiding even the appearance of favoritism.   

They helped municipal candidates understand the rules, made sure qualification forms were properly complete before the qualification period ended, and assisted the butcher, the baker, and the candlestick maker navigate what can be a confusing process for neophyte politicians.

That would explain why Ms. Lewis hasn’t seen a city clerk remove a name from a ballot after qualifying in her decade of experience in Volusia County…

Outside of Deltona’s municipal elections, earlier this week I learned that District 5 Volusia County Councilman David “No Show” Santiago tried to pull something similar when he attempted to have his opponent, David Sosa, similarly disqualified.  Apparently, Councilman Santiago claimed Mr. Sosa had procedural issues with a campaign treasurer and failed to check a box on a form.

To her credit, Supervisor Lewis denied Councilman Santiago’s brazen attempt to deny District 5 voters a choice and found that Mr. Sosa is duly qualified to stand for election.  

Now, longsuffering Deltona residents are left (once again) with more questions than answers.

Unfortunately, the qualification bruhaha wasn’t the only electoral shenanigans reported in Deltona this week. Other campaign mischief includes someone purchasing the domain “maritzaformayor.com,” which immediately redirects to Mayor Avila’s campaign website… 

Yeah.  I know.

In my view, taking an opponent’s means of promoting themselves out-of-play is typical campaign strategy – skeevy as hell – but in-bounds.  However, I’m not sure using it to deceive potential donors/supporters by redirecting them to Mayor Santiago’s campaign page is ethical, moral, or permitted by election law.

But, in my view, the tactic damn sure speaks to Mayor Avila’s character…    

That said, the arbitrary disqualification of otherwise qualified candidates by Deltona’s filing official due to a simple scrivener’s error is the textbook definition of pettiness (and election interference) – again, designed to deny the voters of Deltona a choice.

That undermines the public’s trust in the process.

It also calls into question what factions inside/outside City Hall forced the issue with longtime Deltona City Clerk Joyce Rafferty? 

There you have it. 

Another nonsensical Deltona debacle that has residents questioning whether Ms. Rafferty is being influenced, grossly incompetent, or a possible accomplice to election tampering? 

Stay tuned, folks. 

Depending on which puppeteer is found to be pulling the strings – and the radius of the inevitable voter fallout – this one could get interesting… 

Quote of the Week

“Looking back to the history of the struggle, it is truly astounding that the fledgling country became an independent nation and went on to become the freest, richest, most powerful country in the annals of the world. For America to prevail against its mother country was a shock to many on both sides of the war. For the United States to rise so high, so quickly on the world scene was no accident or fluke of fate, according to leaders of that time. Rather, Divine Providence, the acts of God in the affairs of men, favored the new nation. The patriot signers of the Declaration, had, after all expressed “a firm Reliance on the Protection of divine Providence,” and they were “appealing to the Supreme Judge of the World” for his aid in their cause.

Not least, the Declaration of Independence affirms the concept of human rights, special privileges that we have and enjoy, thanks to our Creator. We were born with these rights — life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness — because we the people are a special creation. We as a nation have the moral high ground to promote human rights in totalitarian countries and where the free will of people made in God’s image is under threat of being lost or taken away. That is one of our nation’s greatest gifts to the world. Pro Gloria Dei.”

–Reporter Al Everson, as excerpted from his essay in the West Volusia Beacon, “Between the lines: July 4 — a time to celebrate and thank God,” Tuesday, June 30, 2026

As we celebrate our great nation’s 250^th birthday, I hope you will take a minute to consider those freedoms we enjoy – and too often take for granted. Like the importance of staying informed on the issues of the day through free and independent local journalism.    

I hope you will take a minute to contribute to the West Volusia Beacon’s annual fundraising drive. 

Here’s more information on how you can help: https://tinyurl.com/5n85jae9

And Another Thing! 

Speaking of the importance of independent journalism, one of the most cogent thoughts on the twists and turns of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ proposed tax shift was penned this week by the great editorialist Peter Schorsch in Florida Politics, “DeSantis held the Legislature hostage for Amendment 3, then walked away from his own win.”

It increasingly appears that Amendment 3 is an orphan with both those kowtowed legislators who passed the ballot initiative, and now its father, Gov. Ron DeSantis, distancing themselves from this damaging threat to Home Rule through the consolidation of power camouflaged as “property tax reform.”

In his excellent essay, Mr. Schorsch explained:

“In the Gospel, Peter swears he will never abandon Jesus — and before the night is out, he denies knowing him three times. Then the rooster crows, and Peter weeps, because he finally understands what he is.

I can’t remember seeing Ron DeSantis weep. But this week, the cock crowed for him just the same.

For more than a year, DeSantis held Florida’s entire legislative process hostage to property taxes. He called lawmakers back to Tallahassee for a Special Legislative Session. He insisted, demanded really, that the Legislature put relief on the ballot. They did. And on Monday, the Governor announced he won’t lift a finger to pass it.”

Find the rest of Mr. Schorsch’s column here: https://tinyurl.com/bdf6nac2

According to reports, Gov. DeSantis now says he’ll vote for it, but won’t go out of his way to support the amendment because isn’t as far reaching as the language he initially proposed…

Good.  It’s bad public policy – and everyone associated with it knows it.  

I hate to sound like a broken record, but the pernicious powerplay pushed by Gov. Ron DeSantis as “reforming property taxes” effectively exsanguinates the responsive, efficient, and accessible essential services we enjoy in our hometowns.

In his excellent piece, Mr. Schorsch points out how – after strongarming the legislature into passing his initiative – lawmakers got a strong dose of the disloyalty that has made Gov. DeSantis the darling of the mega-donor class and widely distrusted by members of his own party.

In Tallahassee and beyond…

“Strip away the policy and you find the man, and the man has a pattern.

Ask Paul Renner, the House Speaker who branded Florida the “Free State” at DeSantis’ side, only to later get knifed by DeSantis, who described him as ill-advised the day Renner filed for Governor.

Ask Jay Collins, the Lieutenant Governor DeSantis handpicked, paraded, and then refused to endorse in Collins’ own hometown.

Ask Donald Trump, who saved DeSantis’ 2018 campaign and got repaid with a Primary so bitter that Trump’s own voters now call DeSantis a traitor. Ask the staffers who needed cupcakes to lure him to meetings, one of whom told reporters, “loyalty and trust, that is not a currency he deals in.”

Some on the MAGA right diagnosed it years ago, in a statement titled, simply, “A Lesson for DeSantis: Loyalty Counts.”

DeSantis keeps proving his critics right. Trump made him. Renner served him. Collins idolized him. The homeowners believed him. Each one, the moment they stopped being useful, became disposable.”

Last month, Gov. DeSantis essentially held legislator’s hostage by refusing to sign the state budget.  That resulted in the ballot initiative being passed in less than 48-hours without the first study, legitimate audit, external input, or even a basic understanding of the long-term ramifications of their actions on the communities that sent them to Tallahassee.

According to a comment by Sen. Tom Wright last month, “He has not yet signed off on the budget. So in my belief, because I’ve seen it happen many times already, if we didn’t vote yes on that bill, we would probably see all of our budget items zeroed out, and I’m under the belief that that bill was going to pass one way or another.”

In my view, coercion and political duress is no way to ramrod public policy that would fundamentally change the way we fund essential local services. 

Do Florida residents need tax relief?  Absolutely. 

More to the point, they deserve spending reform by state and local governments – a concerted effort to change the manner and means by which our tax dollars are spent – with prescribed limitations on exorbitant salaries, benefits, and allowances for senior administrators, Taj Mahal local government facilities, corporate giveaways, expensive political stunts, and the clockwork millage increases that seem de rigueur in certain cities and counties.

What we don’t need is responsive, efficient, and effective local governments painted with the same brush as bloated bureaucracies who exist to serve themselves.

My hope is that Florida homeowners will see through this orchestrated façade that was championed – now effectively abandoned – by Gov. Ron DeSantis, and support accessible local government and the tailored essential services we’ve come to appreciate.   

Floridians should no longer be forced to tolerate dangerous public policy ramrodded by thuggery, disloyalty, and mistrust.

That’s all for me. 

Here’s wishing the United States of America – the Greatest Nation in the history of the World – a Happy Birthday as we join together to celebrate 250-years of Freedom! 

Happy Independence Day, y’all!