Election 2024

Voter Information

Primary Election

Election Day: Tuesday, August 20, 2024

Deadline to Register to Vote: July 22, 2024
Deadline to Request a Vote-by-Mail Ballot: August 8, 2024
Early Voting: Saturday, August 10 – Saturday, August 17
- Early Voting Hours: 8:00am – 6:00pm

General Election

Election Day: Tuesday, November 5, 2024

Deadline to Register to Vote: October 7, 2024
Deadline to Request a Vote-by-Mail Ballot: October 24, 2024
Early Voting: Monday, October 21 – Saturday, November 2
- Early Voting Hours: 7:00am – 7:00pm

To Request a Vote-by-Mail Ballot, a registered voter must provide their name, date of birth, permanent Volusia County residential address, and Florida Driver’s License Number/Florida ID Number or the last four (4) digits of their social security number; and signature (if written request). Requests made by someone other than the voter must include their name, address, relationship to the voter, and if available, their driver’s license number. Written requests must also include the voter’s/requestor’s signature.

Requests may be made:

Meet The Candidates

NSB Residents’ Coalition is a non-profit, nonpartisan community-focused volunteer organization dedicated to preserving the qualities that make our city unique by providing the information necessary for our city’s citizens to take a meaningful role in shaping the future of New Smyrna Beach.

Commissioner – Zone 3

Note: These TWO candidates will NOT appear on the August Primary ballot. They WILL appear on the November 5 General Election ballot.

I’m married to my wife Jess and have two children, Truman and Isla, both attend NSBHS. Raised in Miami, I frequently visited NSB in my childhood to see my grandmother who opened the NSB Dairy Queen in 1953. I’ve been running the Dairy Queen for 26 years and have a B.S. in Business from the University of West Florida.
I’ve had the pleasure of serving you on the Commission since 2012, navigating the challenges that growth brings while trying to preserve your quality of life and maintain the quaint coastal town we are. Growing up in Miami gave me a unique perspective of how fast growth, not done well, can cripple a community for locals and diminish your quality of life. The time committed to serving you on the Commission and boards like the Transportation Planning Organization (past Chair), and Planning and Zoning Board (past chair) has given me tremendous experience and knowledge to represent you going forward with issues like traffic and congestion. My goals are preserving your quality of life, protecting our waterways and natural resources, advancing our thriving arts community and maintaining our historic treasures.

I was born in Pennsylvania in the Amish farm region of Pennsylvania. I grew up believing in God and Country – Mom and apple pie (shoo fly pie). When I graduated from high school, the conflict in Vietnam was going full blast. After 2 years of college, I enlisted in the Army NCO Academy conducted by Army Rangers and Green Berets who had returned from tours of duty in Vietnam. I graduated with honors and served in the 1st Air Cavalry Division as the NCO in charge of a rifle platoon. When I returned state-side, I directed U.S. Army veterans from Fort Knox, KY to facilitate their return to civilian life.
I have a Bachelor’s degree in Health Education and studied Building Construction and Contracting. I worked as an OSHA compliance coordinator, specializing in industrial firefighting and safety for industry. Later, I obtained an LPN and then an RN from Excelsior College, NY. I worked as an RN in the Jefferson Hospital System, Philadelphia, PA. Upon retirement, I volunteered with the Volusia County Medical Reserve Corps. I am running for Commissioner Zone 3 in New Smyrna Beach.

Commissioner – Zone 4

Note: These TWO candidates will NOT appear on the August Primary ballot. They WILL appear on the November 5 General Election ballot.

I was born in upstate New York and attended St. Joseph’s School, a Catholic School run by French Canadian Nuns, and was fluent in French by the fifth grade. After a family migration to the West Coast, I attended college in Southern California on a football scholarship and from there embarked on a forty-five-year career in bed and bath fashion home textiles. I rose in the ranks as an expert sales and marketing executive with Fieldcrest Cannon, an industry leader, becoming one of the youngest VPs in company history. My focus was creative branding, bringing new designs to market and filling needs that were previously overlooked. For example, working closely with Mattel and his design team, I created bedding for little girls of color: African American Ballerina Barbie. I also collaborated with Disney, Warner Bros. the MLB, NFL and brought NASCAR to bedding.
My leisure time was always as busy as my career. I have been a public speaker and graduate of Toastmasters International. Since retiring five years ago, I have authored two books, “Lucky Me,” my autobiography, and “Why Chess Matters, A Parent and Teacher’s Guide to the Ancient Game of Kings.” Partnering with Ben Herring, the golf pro at Venetian Bay Golf Club, I created Jr. Golf/Chess Summer Camps for kids, highlighted in a recent article in the Daytona News-Journal. My other interests include reading, line drawing, landscape photography, golf, bottling my homemade hot sauce, and music. I am also a member of the Orchid Society, a tutor for the Literary Society, and as you may know, my latest effort to give back to the community is running for Commissioner Zone 4.

I was elected New Smyrna Beach City Commissioner, zone 4 in 2016. I spent 40 years in public safety as a Firefighter/Paramedic. I graduated from Valencia College with a degree in Fire Science. I was a board member for the Orlando Fire Fighters serving as President for ten years, and treasurer for six. My responsibilities included budgets, benefits, and dispute resolutions during my tenure.
For the last eight years, I have represented the needs of the entire city through support of affordable housing, Turnbull Creek preservation, city charter review, and strengthening land management and zoning regulations to enhance the quality of life in New Smyrna Beach. I have consistently attended advisory board meetings to understand more deeply citizen concerns to link and inform my decision making.
I serve on several boards: Transportation and planning, opioid abatement, SEV YMCA. I coordinate the bus ministry for my church. I am committed to the time and energy necessary to fulfill my duties and obligations as outlined in the City Charter.
My pledges are to continue working as a city commissioner to support, encourage, and sustain the quality of life and beauty of New Smyrna Beach.

Mayor

The following THREE candidates will appear on the August 20th Primary election ballot. The TWO candidates receiving the highest number of votes in the Primary election will appear on the November 5 General Election Ballot.

When the citizens of New Smyrna Beach elected me to serve as their Mayor, I committed to Protect, Evolve and Unite our city. Under my leadership, I have endeavored to PROTECT the precious culture of our coastal community and have made the safety of our citizens a top priority. I have underscored the importance of the need to EVOLVE outdated processes by adopting best practices and by using logic, math and science to drive decisions. I feel strongly that when we UNITE our community around shared values and goals, discussions become collaborative, and a diversity of thoughts and experience result in the best possible outcomes. I am proud of the work we have accomplished, the relationships that have been cultivated and the partnerships that have been built. However, we are at a critical juncture in our City’s history with the retirement of Joe Bunch, New Smyrna Beach Utilities CEO and Khalid Resheidat, our City Manager and long standing employee. Stability and continuity are key as we move forward together to Protect, Evolve and Unite our City.

Father of 5 wonderful children and husband to an amazing wife Tara. Founder of a local business. We employ dozens of locals in the professional services industry and are creating many new high paying jobs every year. I am a member of the New Smyrna Beach Masonic Lodge #149. My family first came to New Smyrna beach in 1984. My family has lived on beach side, Inlet Shores, and now resides in a rural area of New Smyrna beach. I believe this provides unique insight into all the wants and needs of every citizen in the New Smyrna Beach area.

I am by no means a politician. I’m a business owner. I think we need to protect our areas such as Beachside, North Causeway, historic Westside and historic Canal Street, just to name a few. Growth is unavoidable but when and if it is needed, it should have a conservative approach. There are areas in New Smyrna Beach that can afford some new growth and can be used to attract businesses that are cutting edge that also provide high paying jobs. I also believe we should look into getting our beach back from the county as well as investing in all the wonders and beauty our waterways have to offer our citizens with ease of access. I also believe we need to pick up the torch from prior projects that have been left abandoned such as the revitalization of historic West Canal, just as one example. We can no longer allow our city projects to be largely funded by property taxes. The developers and new non-locally owned businesses should pay the lion’s share of this.

I was born and raised in New York City, but don’t hold it against me. Since I never fit in there, I moved away twenty-eight years ago. I am a Radio Talk Show Host. The focus of the show is politics. When I can get stage time, I also do Stand Up Comedy. For five years I hosted talk shows on Fox News Radio and

Westwood One Radio. Westwood One Radio also had me cover Hurricanes when they hit Florida. Other cities I have hosted shows in are New York, Los Angeles, San Diego. Seattle, Miami, Charlotte, Las Vegas, Denver and Philadelphia. I also hosted a podcast called Lou Pate Uncensored. When I was 27, I fractured two vertebrae in a car accident. I was told I would never walk again. Not only did I

defy the odds and walk again, but today I jog every day. This life experience taught me to never quit regardless of how difficult the task at hand may appear.

Why I am the best candidate for mayor of New Smyrna Beach.
Border to border, flooding is the most serious issue. It affects all of us. The city government is not looking out for all the residents of NSB. They cater to real estate companies, general contractors and developers. Rubber stamping for most, if not all, projects, regardless of the consequences to the residents, must end. I am not looking to put construction workers out of work. My dad was a carpenter. Growth will continue, there is no way to stop it. However, it is contributing to the flooding problem. We must alter the way building is done. In reference to drainage, the infrastructure must be updated and maintained. We must stop installing antiquated drainage systems and bring in new engineers with fresh ideas. Secondly, but equally as important, is preserving our natural areas so New Smyrna Beach doesn’t become South Florida. We should protect and allow for natural growth where it is still possible. New Smyrna Beach is quaint. It is like no other city in the country. I would like to preserve its quaintness.

Click HERE for video of 2024 Candidate Forum Questions & Answers

Click here to read NSB Candidates share priorities, ideas with residents at forum (news-journalonline.com).

Commissioner Questions

Why are you running for office? (3 minutes)
2. What is your plan to encourage residents’ involvement in planning for NSB’s future? (3 minutes)
3. What are the biggest challenges currently facing your zone and how would you address those? (3 minutes)
4. This is your opportunity to share any closing remarks with our audience. (1 minute)

Mayoral Candidate Questions

Why are you running for office? (3 minutes)
2. What is your vision for the city’s future? (3 minutes)
3. What are the biggest challenges facing NSB in the coming years in terms of environmental issues, development and redevelopment and how do you propose to address those? (3 minutes)
4. This is your opportunity to share closing remarks with our audience. (1 minute)

The NSB Residents’ Coalition Inc. would like to thank the candidates for their participation in this forum. We would also like to thank those who attended for their interest in our local government.