- October 5, 2026
Ormond Beach Zone 3 City Commissioner Kristin Deaton has been reelected for a second term after her opponent, Ted Rhodes, withdrew from the race on Monday, Sept. 14.
A lifelong Ormond Beach resident, Deaton is a sales manager and mortgage loan originator at Guild Mortgage. She was first elected in 2024.
Because Rhodes was her only opponent in the race, Deaton was automatically reelected.
"Today, I’m feeling incredibly grateful and humbled to be officially reelected to serve the residents of Ormond Beach for a second term," Deaton said in a statement to the Observer. "This community is my home. I was born and raised here, built my career here, am raising my family here, and have had the privilege of serving for the past two years as your Zone 3 City Commissioner. I don’t take that responsibility lightly."
Rhodes filed to run for the Zone 3 seat just days before the qualifying period for the 2026 election. An Army veteran, Rhodes has lived in Ormond Beach since 2022. In a statement to the Observer, Rhodes said his reasons for withdrawing are "deeply personal," affecting his and his family's well-being.
"I am proud that I kept my campaign focused on the issues and professional criticisms against my opponent, and never levied any personal attacks," Rhodes said. "I am deeply grateful to all the people who gave me their support and encouragement with their accolades, donations, and endorsements. I especially want to thank my campaign treasurer, Carolyne Todorov."
Deaton thanked her supporters in her statement.
"Your confidence means more to me than I can put into words," she said. "As I begin my second term, I will continue to always put our residents first and work hard for you. My priorities remain affordability, responsible growth, infrastructure, public safety, and protecting the quality of life that makes Ormond Beach so special.
"Thank you for allowing me to continue serving you," she continued. "I’m honored, I’m grateful, and I’m ready for the next two years working with Mayor Tolland and my fellow City Commissioners to ensure Ormond Beach remains the wonderful place we all know and love."
Two Ormond Beach City Commission races will be decided in the general election on Nov. 3.
Zone 2 voters will decide on who they would like to represent them for the next two years: incumbent Travis Sargent or challenger Jennifer Bright. The Zone 4 race is headed to a runoff based on the August primary election results, with voters choosing between incumbent Harold Briley and challenger Amber Bobak.
