- June 16, 2026
Daytona Beach Shores Mayor Nancy Miller said in retrospect she probably should not have made a call to a Shores resident who put up a campaign sign in her yard for Miller’s opponent, Mike Poniatowski, in the race for the Volusia County Council at-large seat.
But Miller said she was not making a false claim, as Poniatowski has charged, when she told the homeowner that a permit is required for political signs to be erected in the city.
In a press release, Poniatowski, an emergency operations manager for AdventHealth, demanded an investigation of Miller for using “her official title as mayor to pressure a private homeowner into removing a Poniatowski campaign sign from their own property.”
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?
MIKE PONIATOWSKI
Poniatowski, posted a recording of Miller’s voicemail to the homeowner on his Facebook page and included a screen shot of the transcription with his press release.
In the voicemail, Miller said, “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.”
The candidate whose sign is erected or placed ... or other person responsible ... shall deposit a fee with the City Clerk.
— DAYTONA BEACH SHORES CODE OF ORDINANCES
Poniatowski charges that no permit exists. But the city’s code of ordinances states, “The candidate whose sign is erected or placed or the campaign manager or other person responsible for such erection or placing of any political sign shall deposit a fee with the City Clerk. The fee shall be specified in the current city Land Development Code Schedule of Fees which is available at the office of the City Clerk.”
Miller said the fee is $231, which she paid to the City of Daytona Beach Shores on May 29, according to her campaign finance records listed on the Volusia County Supervisor of Elections website.
In a phone interview, Miller said city staff is recommending to the commission to revise the sign code and likely no longer charge for political signs. She said in light of the recommendation the city is not enforcing the ordinance.
“So, probably down the road I would get my $231 back,” she said.
Poniatowski’s release cited Florida Statute 106.1435: usage and removal of political campaign advertisements.
“Temporary political campaign signs placed on private property with the owner’s permission require no permit whatsoever,” Poniatowski’s release said.
But the statute states: “This provision does not preclude municipalities from imposing additional or more stringent requirements on the usage and removal of political campaign advertisements.”
Poniatowski’s release said, “This is exactly the kind of conduct voters should be alarmed by. Nancy Miller used the weight of her official office — her title as Mayor — to intimidate a private citizen into silencing support for her opponent. That is not a campaign tactic. That is an abuse of power, and it may be a crime.”
The release said Poniatowski’s campaign “has filed formal complaints with the Florida Division of Elections, the Volusia County Supervisor of Elections, and the Florida Commission on Ethics, and is requesting referral to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.”
He is making a very big issue about this. I told my team we are going to talk about my background, my experience, and we’re not going to put him down.
— NANCY MILLER
Miller said the homeowner lives in one of 30 homes in Daytona Beach Shores “between two large stretches of hotels, that suffered significant hurricane damage.” She said she had been trying to help the home owners put up rock revetments.
“I built up an excellent rapport with them,” Miller said. “I reached out to several of them, the ones that are here full time. Most of them said, OK (to put up her signs in their yards).”
Poniatowski’s press release said Miller “is asking Volusia County voters to trust her with a seat on the County Council — a body with real authority over land use, taxation, and public resources. 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?”
“He is making a very big issue about this,” Miller said of Poniatowski. “I told my team we are going to talk about my background, my experience, and we’re not going to put him down.
“In retrospect,” she said, “I probably should not have made that call.”
