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News-Journal Article -
June 11, 2003
Mayoral candidates debate
issues on the air
By JOHN BOZZO
Staff Writer
Last update: 10 June 2003
DAYTONA BEACH -- Three candidates jockeying to win the
mayor's seat this fall began verbal sparring over city
taxes and needs Tuesday in the first public forum of the
election season.
Commissioners Yvonne Scarlett-Golden and Mike Shallow and
former county and city administrator Tom McClelland shared
the microphone in a radio broadcast on WNDB (1150 AM) from
Caribbean Jack's Restaurant.
Marc Bernier, host of an afternoon talk show, quizzed the
candidates on plans by city administrators to propose
raising property taxes as much as 5 percent next year,
after a 25.5 percent increase this year.
Shallow said city staff should make do with the current
tax rate because rising property values will bring in more
money next year. "They should start from zero and justify
every dollar they say they need in the budget," he said.
Scarlett-Golden said city leaders were not fiscally
responsible by avoiding a property tax increase for seven
years before this year. She criticized plans to use
emergency reserves to help defray $4 million in costs for
employee raises and pensions. "If those (reserves) are
disturbed, we will have serious problems,"
she said of reserves the city maintains for emergency
expenses.
McClelland did not speak directly to the tax issue, but
said city roads and facilities such as Peabody Auditorium
are deteriorating. "If I do become mayor, I'm going to ask
for a statement of what our needs are to bring our
infrastructure up to where it should be," he said.
All three candidates advocated cracking down on rowdy
behavior at major special events such as Spring Break.
"I would work to change this city's image from a raucous
party town to sun and fun and families," Scarlett-Golden
said.
Shallow responded that the city should take over
management of special events. "The city needs a department
of special events and a manager of special events."
McClelland said, "They've (special events) got to be made
compatible with people who live here all year round and
pay all the bills."
Scarlett-Golden and Shallow said they want to search for a
new city manager when Richard Quigley reaches his
projected retirement date next April.
"We've got a world-class city with some world-class
problems and we need a world-class manager who can get
results," Shallow said.
McClelland responded that he would only look for a new
manager if Quigley wants to give up the job.
All three candidates supported efforts to combat
prostitution, but debate on this subject hit a low point.
"I don't know how they make any money," Shallow said. "We
don't have the best-looking prostitutes."
McClelland added, "There's not enough vodka in the world
to make them look good."
john.bozzo@news-jrnl.com
Daytona Beach Mayoral Race
THE CANDIDATES:
YVONNE SCARLETT-GOLDEN,
76, a retired educator who has served as a city
commissioner from Zone 5 on the west side of the city
since 1995.
MIKE SHALLOW, 53, a Realtor who has served as the
city commissioner from Zone 3 that spans the beachside to
the central city since 1999.
TOM MCCLELLAND, 73, worked as Volusia County public
works director and assistant manager for 11 years and was
the city's public works director for two years before
resigning in 1995.
DONNA DIMAGGIO, 54, a financial planner with no
political experience who has said she plans to withdraw
from the race.
THE
OPENINGS:
The mayoral post and all
seven City Commission seats open up for two-year terms.
THE
PAY:
Commissioners receive an
annual salary of $12,000 and the mayor gets $19,500.
THE SCHEDULE:
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Primary election: Oct. 7.
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General election: Nov. 4.
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Swearing in: Oath of office
given to members of the City Commission.
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