Port Orange mayor to run for county seat

to offer,” Burnette said. “As far as Volusia County, I think that we need to work on ... I say, ‘Unify Volusia.’” county ordinance violation, Assistant County Attorney Maureen Sikora said.

Elected Officials, which is working to create a transportation subcommittee.

If the council opts not to draft a county ordinance, Sikora suggested, the council could press the Legislature to enact a law similar to Arizona’s.

But the council did not support that method.

County Councilman Troy Kent and County Chair Jeff Brower voted against a motion to direct county staff to pursue the ordinance.

Kent, who criticized the law’s name and called it sensational, said he hasn’t heard residents complaining about a need to charge people for getting stranded on flooded streets.

“Pun intended, I think it would be stupid to waste any more time on it, because of state law,” Kent said.

Councilman Jake Johansson, who voted in favor of pursuing the ordinance for discussion, said he could see problems arising when distinguishing between gross negligence and people who make bad decisions under duress during an emergency.

Brower said he didn’t feel like the county needed the ordinance.

“I think that the stupid consequences of the action are probably its own worst penalty,” Brower said.

Robins said the county could include language in an ordinance to allow officers to pursue violations at their discretion.

“So it’s another tool in their tool belt for these occasions where it’s just blatant disregard and puts human life and public property in jeopardy,” Robins said.

JARLEENE ALMENAS SENIOR EDITOR

Port Orange Mayor Don Burnette filed on May 1 to run for Volusia County Council chair in the 2024 elections.

Burnette has served on the Port Orange City Council since 2010, holding the mayoral office since 2016. Due to the city’s term limits, his final term will conclude in December 2024, leading him to think about what he would do next, Burnette said. So, he decided to run for Volusia County Council.

“I still feel like I have something

Burnette, a lifelong Volusia resident, is a loan officer with The Mortgage Firm. According to a news release announcing his bid for council chair, he is also a longtime volunteer for Volusia County Schools and has served on the local Salvation Army Advisory Board, where he chairs the finance committee, since 2004. He served two terms as president of the Volusia League of Cities and is a member of the Florida League of Cities board of directors.

Some of the countywide issues he’s eyeing include supporting public safety and more proactively addressing infrastructure needs, something he’s advocated for as a representative on the Roundtable of Volusia County

“I honestly believe that the collaboration between the cities and Volusia County right now is near an all-time high,” Burnette said. “And we need to leverage that right now as best we can moving forward to continue to move the needle forward and get things done.”

Burnette said he is fully invested in making sure the community succeeds, and that he would like to walk away from his job as mayor leaving the community better.

“At the end of the day, if we can make a positive impact on that, if we have strong, safe communities where people feel a part of it, then I consider that success,” Burnette said.