Rev. Albert Williams turns 103 See page 3
YEAR 37 NO. 33
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Daytona
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MARIAN WRIGHT EDELMAN: Time to end ‘reverse Robin Hood’ tax policies Page 4
Local teen wins gold at Junior Olympics See page 6
East Central Florida’s Black Voice
www.daytonatimes.com
AUGUST 16 - AUGUST 22, 2012
Henry, Shelley among Tuesday’s winners
Willie Wright remembered as educator and activist
A few glitches, some surprises as Volusia voters go to polls
Family, Campbell classmates share fond memories at Aug. 11 service
PEOPLE SPEAK
FROM STAFF REPORTS
BY JAMES HARPER DAYTONA TIMES harperjames59@yahoo.com
The 2012 primary election in Volusia County came and went with mixed results. A new Daytona Beach mayor was not determined, incumbent school board member Al Williams hung on to his seat, the race for Volusia County Chair took an unexpected turn, and several hundred absentee voter voter ballots were not counted.
350 ballots rejected According to the Volusia County Department of Elections, 350 absentee ballots received for the Aug. 4 primary were rejected by its canvassing board. County Council members Joie Alexander and Joyce Cusack along with Judge David Foxman made up the canvassing board for the primary. Supervisor of Elections Ann McFall said the board was “very, very lenient” when it came to disqualifying ballots but absentee ballots with no signatures and signatures that did not match the signature on file had to be rejected. McFall acknowledged that in a couple of the county council races and a race in Ponce Inlet, the Daytona Beach Zone 1 Commission race and the Holly Hill mayor race the results could have had different outcomes if the ballots had been allowed to be counted. However, none of the 350 were tabulated. The elections supervisor was not allowed to sit on the canvassing board because she was a candidate for re-election. She won re-election with 66 percent of the vote, defeating three challengers – Andy Kelly, Teresa Apgar and Beaulah Blanks. McFall will return to the canvassing board for the Nov. 6 general election. “I think that the voters just didn’t see any reason not to keep me in office. I was surprised that there won’t be a runoff. Often candidates spend so much time and money on primaries hoping to finish at least in the top two and run out by the municipal election. We spent a lot but thankfully we don’t have the runoff.”
ASHLEY THOMAS/DAYTONA TIMES
County Councilwoman Joie Alexander (left) greets Attorney James Gangitano at the canvassing board room in the DeLand Courthouse Tuesday night as Councilwoman Joyce Cusack (seated) keeps a watchful eye on precinct results which were streamed live following the close of the polls.
Absentee ballots key to election In Volusia, 23,804 absentee ballots were accepted; 41,036 had been requested. The absentee ballots made a big difference in a number of races, especially the Daytona Beach mayor’s race. The absentee ballots, along with early votes, gave current Daytona Commissioner Edith Shelley a comfortable lead, which she maintained as votes from Tuesday were added to them. Shelley received a total of 3,539 followed by Derrick Henry with 3,045. The two will face each other in a run-off on Nov. 6. Mayoral candidate Gwen Azama-Edwards received 1,685 votes while Fred Hoffmann garnered 659.
‘Captain’ of group
ANDREAS BUTLER/DAYTONA TIMES
Volunteer Genesis Robinson looks over the shoulder of mayoral candidate Derrick Henry (center) and Zone 5 No ‘block vote’ Commissioner Patrick Henry as they review election reDaytona Beach Black residents’ votes were spread about sults on the Supervisor of Elections website. among the four candidates – two Blacks and two Whites. It appears Bethune-Cookman University Political Science Professor Randy Jackson’s conclusion in last week’s paper proved true. “The Black community has become more independent. They vote on issues. They (Blacks) don’t block-vote anymore,” Bethune-Cookman Uni-
Lori Miles said she will cherish and remember moments of her Uncle Willie Wright’s early life. Wright died Aug. 4 at age 80. Miles read a poem she wrote in tribute to Wright to family and friends at the funeral, which took place Aug. 11 at the R.J. Gainous Funeral Home. She shared about his bout with Alzheimer’s disease. “You didn’t die. You went on living; your mind had reached its end. . . Concentrate on early life and we’ll remember the best, when you were fit and we’re here to pay our last respects. Uncle Willie, we love you,” Willie read Miles, choking Wright back the tears. Miles said Wright, who was a retired educator, was always teaching. “‘You got that report card?’ he would ask us. I’ll cherish those moments,” concluded Miles adding that he’d always reward them if they got good grades.
versity Political Science Professor Randy Jacobs told the Daytona Times. The number of Blacks in Daytona Beach voting Nov. 6 will increase because President Barack Obama will be on the ballot and because more than 3,000 B-CU students will be back in town to participate in the voting process.
Of the students, 1,200 are freshman and are required to live on campus. Therefore if registered, they can vote in the Daytona Beach election.
An educator, Wright also was well known in the Daytona Beach area for his activism as a member of the local NAACP and as an advocate for holistic medicines. James Daniels graduated with Wright from Campbell Street High School in 1950. Daniels, along with several of their classmates, was in attendance at Wright’s funeral on Aug. 11 along with Clarence Badie, Alphonso Blake, Lutha Laws, Sam Rogers, Jerry Murphy and Willie Fields. Daniels spoke for the group. Daniels said he, Wright and the others have stayed in contact with each other since graduating. In recent years, they have been getting together at least once a month. He said they called Wright “the captain.’’ “It was part of his makeup,” Daniels said. “When he set his mind to do something, he did his best. “He kept busy doing something. Run out to the dog track every once in a while,” Daniels said to laughter from the congregation.
Kept family together
The mayoral race, which had a margin of 494 votes be-
Wright’s funeral took place the same weekend of his family’s reunion. Charles Jackson spoke on behalf of the family.
Please see ELECTION, Page 2
Please see WRIGHT, Page 2
Splitting the vote?
Students will see more officers on their way to school Volusia adding more law enforcement to ensure safety of walkers, riders BY JAMES HARPER DAYTONA TIMES harperjames59@yahoo.com
Twenty-seven Volusia County students were involved in incidents with vehicles during last year’s school year. When schools open across the county on Monday, students will notice more law enforcement as
Volusia’s sheriff announced that more officers will be added to schools “in an effort to improve the safety of students who walk, ride their bike or are driven to school every day.” “Whether you’re a pedestrian or a driver, our message is the same: Stay alert, avoid distractions and put safety first,” Volusia County Sheriff Ben Johnson said. “The start of the school year can be very hectic. So as we all return to our back-to-school routines, motorists and pedestrians need to be especially cautious around schools, buses and crossing zones. Everyone needs
to think safety first.” Crossing guards are being added at the Big Tree Road/Ridgewood Avenue intersection in South Daytona. The Big Tree Road/Golfview Boulevard intersection in South Daytona will no longer have a posted crossing guard.
walking or biking to school or congregating near bus stops. When turning at an intersection, be sure to yield to pedestrians and cyclists. If your child is walking to school or a bus stop, plan a safe route and make sure your child knows the route and can navigate it safely.
Tips for parents
Reminders for students
Parents and guardians dropping off children to school are being urged to drop them off and pick them up as close to the school as possible, slow down and watch out for school zones and children
Students who ride the buses are reminded to stay out of the street while waiting for the bus and wait for the bus to come to a complete stop and the doors open before approaching the bus
from the curb. After getting off the bus, students are reminded to look both ways and then move immediately onto the sidewalk and out of traffic. Walkers and bike riders are urged to wear a properly fitted helmet at all times, use a bike that’s the right size for them, make sure not to wear loose clothing, drawstrings or shoelaces dangling while riding the bike, and walk or bike with a friend. They also are reminded to cross at intersections. Volusia County Schools Transportation Department provides Please see OFFICERS, Page 2