- December 4, 2025
A new candidate is running for Ormond Beach City Commission Zone 3.
Businessman William Sanchez filed to run on Aug. 18 for the seat, which is currently held by Commissioner Kristin Deaton. Sanchez is the president and CEO of Solidus Communications Inc. and has lived in Ormond Beach for five years. He said he decided to run because he'd like to see Ormond retain its quality of life.
"I've been an entrepreneur practically my entire life and i think that there is something that I can provide to the city in helping it traverse these current waters that we're in," Sanchez said. "We're going through a period of growth in Ormond Beach, for better or worse, and I think that it behooves us to ensure that the city puts its best foot forward in order to encourage and also to benefit from that growth, without missing on the lifestyle that Ormond Beach is — because at the end of the day, there's a reason why I moved to Ormond Beach."
Sanchez is the founder and executive director of Cultural Awareness Fund, and organized the International Day Festival in town earlier this year. He has served on local boards, including the Cultural Council of Volusia County and the Volusia County Business Incubator. Additionally, Sanchez volunteers for the Volusia County Tech Hub and for the Volusia County Economic Development Team's Innovation Challenge Task Force.
This is the first time he's running for office, but Sanchez said he has been keen on political science since he was in college.
If elected to the City Commission, Sanchez said his background in business will benefit the city assess contracts and spending, referencing the recent issue in choosing an employee benefits broker.
"That was a wake-up call for me — at least one of the many," Sanchez said. "I saw the opportunity to say, 'Hey, you know what? I think I can provide something.'"
Growth, flooding and homelessness are other issues the city needs to work on, he added, and he seeks a chance to have a "fair shake" at representing his zone in this regard.
"I want what's best for the city," Sanchez said. "I want to get to meet as many people as I can and I want to be able to impart that philosophy of minds, because at the end of the day, it is about doing what's right and what's best for each and every one of us."
