- April 18, 2024
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Protecting the city's finances, environment, history and small businesses were the main points discussed by the Ormond Beach City Commission candidates for Zones 1, 2 and 4 during a virtual candidate forum on Wednesday, Sept. 16, held by the Citizens for Ormond Beach.
Each of the races have two candidates running, an opponent plus the incumbent. Candidates spoke about their priorities if elected or re-elected, and stated their stance regarding issues like the COVID-19 pandemic, growth and the commission's recent decision regarding the issuance of Biketoberfest outdoor activity permits.
Here is a rundown of what the candidates said.
Running to represent Zone 1 in Ormond Beach is incumbent Dwight Selby and Tim Grigsby.
Selby was first elected to the commission in 2016, and is the CEO of Selby Realty. He's lived in the city for 37 years.
Grigsby has lived in Ormond for over 26 years and is longtime employee of engineering firm McKim and Creed. He said he feels the city needs to do more to protect the environment.
If elected, Grigsby said he would work to restore citizen trust in elected officials, aim to reinstate the 2009 wetland rules and revive the environmental advisory board.
If Selby is re-elected, he said his greatest priority would be keeping taxes low and bringing in higher paying jobs. He also mentioned the environment, saying no one worked harder on the bringing septic-to-sewer conversion in the north peninsula than him, and that the issue will resurface again.
On Biketoberfest permits, Grigsby said he would have voted against, and that the current commission has failed to take a stronger stand to protect public health. Selby voted for issuing permits.
The candidates were also at odds with each other when it came to the Hand Avenue extension; Selby supports it, citing the need for a new east-west road and Grigsby opposes it, saying it will only support the Avalon Park development.
Grisgby criticized rezoning properties in the city and said he believed in "smart growth," low-impact development and redevelopment
“I think this method of development costs the developer less money because it needs less material and fewer permits, and it’s far better for the environment," he said.
Selby said the commission grants variances when appropriate. If he could change the process, he said he would want to review site plans before a development order goes through the commission review process.
“It’s interesting when people talk about ‘we shouldn’t develop every square inch of land," Selby said. "Well, you know, somebody owns that land. I’ve owned several pieces of vacant land, and I never bought a piece of land to keep it vacant forever.”
Running to represent Zone 2 is incumbent Troy Kent and Ken Smith.
Kent is an Ormond native that is currently an assistant principal at Ormond Beach Middle School. He was first elected to the commission in 2003.
Smith is also a lifelong citizen of Ormond Beach, and owns Wall-Y-World Gallery. He said he decided to run for election because he felt it was time for a change on the commission to gain new insight on issues, especially those affecting small businesses.
He said he also was an advocate for local history and the environment.
“We have to preserve our history and our environment," Smith said. "It’s key to our area. There’s a lot of growth happening that I don’t think we need to do.”
If re-elected, Kent said his priority will be maintaining fiscal responsibility.
“We’re in the middle of a global pandemic and large businesses, small businesses, individuals are feeling that financial pinch right now," he said.
Additionally, Kent said he wished to work to bring a hospital to the beachside.
Smith approved of the commission's vote to approve outdoor permits for Biketoberfest, which Kent voted in favor of. Having shut down his business for a weeks due to the pandemic, Smith said it was critical to allow businesses to keep up operations.
The two did not agree, however, on whether or not the city needs a Hand Avenue extension. Smith said he didn't want Ormond Beach to "turn into Fort Lauderdale" and that the city needs to preserve the environment and not pave that sensitive area to the west. Kent said he supports the extension as an alternate route for residents, not because he wants to help the Avalon Park development get built.
Smith said the commission tends to favor developers when it comes to construction and that they need to focus more on environmentally-sound construction.
Kent said the city has grown slowly since he was elected to the commission. According to the 2019 population estimates by the U.S. Census Bureau, the population has grown by 11% since April 1, 2010, when 38,137 people lived in the city. The 2019 population estimate is 43,759.
Running to represent Zone 4 in Ormond Beach incumbent Rob Littleton and David Romeo, who ran against Littleton in the 2018 local election.
Littleton was first elected in 2016, and he owns and operates Go Ormond!, which helps educate high school students in mathematics and accounting.
Romeo has lived in Ormond since 1986, and is local businessman that graduated from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. He is a member of the Water Environment Federation, the U.S. Green Building Council and the Irrigation Association.
Littleton said his priorities if re-elected will be to keep a low tax rate, a fair budget and keep up the city's quality of life. He also advocated for adequate funding for the police department.
Romeo said the city needs to restart citizen input on issues and think about "smart, responsible, productive growth," and agreed funding police was important. He also believes new development shouldn't impact adjacent property owners.
“We need to listen to our people, not the developers," he said.
Romeo agreed that issuing permits for Biketoberfest, which Littleton voted for, was a good decision, as bikers will come regardless. However, he said he would have taken it a step further mandated masks city-wide.
The two disagreed about whether a Hand Avenue extension is needed. Romeo felt it wasn't, and that the road would only benefit Avalon Park Daytona, and that it would be costly and environmentally-damaging to construct.
Littleton said he supports it because he utilizes Hand Avenue frequently and it would make sense to have another East-West corridor. He said the issue is separate from Avalon Park.
They also disagreed about rezonings, as Romeo said they appear "out-of-control" and that they often trample against the property rights of adjacent owners and destroy the city's character.
Littleton said variances are decided in consideration with all involved stakeholders, and that citizens have asked for businesses like Aldi, Wawa and a drive-thru Starbucks to come to town.
“Now we have those services and they don’t have to drive all the way to Daytona to get them," he said. "That’s the type of smart growth we’ve had in Ormond Beach.”
The next virtual CFOB forum is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 23, featuring candidates in the Volusia County Council chair and District 4 races. Visit citizensforormondbeach.org to register.
