New year, new council: Volusia's elected county officials sworn into office

Five out of the six new or reelected County Council members took their oaths of office on Thursday, Jan. 5.

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Once the newly elected and reelected members of the Volusia County Council had taken their oaths of office, Council Chair Jeff Brower looked around the dais and asked them a question: Do they want to be a group or a team?

"A group would be seven individuals, different views, locked in our own agendas and it would not be productive or efficient for the citizens of Volusia County," Brower said. "A team is still seven people with different views, with different ideas, but a team will respect one another, listen to each other, and ... occasionally change your mind according to the debate that is heard here."

Five out of the six new or reelected council members — Brower's seat was not up for reelection in 2022 — were sworn into office inside the County Council chambers in DeLand on Thursday, Jan. 5. The sixth council member, District 5 Councilman David Santiago, will be sworn in at a later date as he will be absent for the first two meetings of the year. 

Council members Jake Johansson, Don Dempsey, Matt Reinhart, Danny Robins and Troy Kent were sworn in by Volusia County Court Judge Angela Dempsey, who is also Don Dempsey's wife. 

Dempsey, who represents District 1, thanked his supporters and said that it was a miracle he got elected, and that he believed he was on the dais thanks to divine appointment. 

"I'd just like to thank my lord and savior Jesus Christ for putting me here, and I hope I do him right," Dempsey said.

Reinhart, who represents District 2, is a former warden for the Volusia County Corrections Division, said he had given his life to serving the citizens of Volusia and was ready to do so in a different capacity. He thanked his wife for her help in his campaign.

"We were the unknown," Reinhart said. "We were the underdog, and her talents made it possible for me to transfer from the warden to the councilman."

Robins was the only member of the council who was reelected, this time for a four-year term. 

"Despite the many challenges that we have faced, we've made tremendous progress and I could not be more excited to see what our future holds," Robins said.

He congratulated his fellow council members who were elected and said the recent election was "one for the record books." He said voters made it clear that they wanted open debate on issues and for council members to work with one another to find common ground. 

"Volusia's made it clear by choosing progress over perfidies, stewardship over subjugation and experience over expedience," Robins said. "I'm grateful to these voters for they have demonstrated what they truly seek in us as elected officials." 

Kent, who previously served as an Ormond Beach City Commission for 19 years, said he was appreciative of the voters for electing him and thanked his family and friends for their support. 

He vowed to work throughout his two-year term to fix infrastructure at LPGA Boulevard, Tymber Creek Road and Airport Road; ensuring residents can drive on the beach for free; increasing the caliber and frequency of events at the Ocean Center; fighting against short-term rentals in residential areas; and creating dog-friendly areas of the beach in each seaside municipality. 

Kent quoted Jerry Reed's song "East Bound and Down" from Smokey and the Bandit.

"We've got a long way to go, and a short time to get there," Kent said. "That's this guy. I will start today trying to make this county better."

Johansson stressed the importance of working together and reiterated the importance what he called the "four C's" during his campaign: Cooperation, collaboration, communication and common sense. 

"I arrived here today assured that we can accomplish those goals with this group of elected officials," Johansson said.

He mentioned that some of his key goals for his four-year term is to increase the median income in Volusia County and to make certain contentious items on the council agenda time certain so that the public who is waiting to speak does not have to wait for several hours during meetings. 

Brower said he looked forward to an "incredibly busy year" as the council works to continue addressing the issues caused by the recent hurricanes. One of his goals for the council is to ensure each member is heard and respected. 

"I want this to be a council that a public looks at, that the press looks at, and says, 'I didn't expect that,'" Brower said. "Our public deserves that. The people that elected each one of you, and me two years ago, want to see a group that isn't homogeneous — we don't all think alike — but that can come together and debate issues in a way that's respectful and productive, and I think we will do that."

 

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