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The two most pressing issues facing Volusia County are irresponsible development and flooding. We already have tools to address both that are not being adequately employed. One is to regulate sprawl by implementing a rural boundary and Low-Impact Development, and by promoting infill development and the use of stem wall construction instead of fill. To control flooding, we need to reduce the use of fill in new construction, enforce county stormwater regulations equally across all municipalities, and collaborate closely with local, state, and federal governments to secure the funding and expertise needed to finally address our serious flooding issues.
Yes - the Florida Legislature has been working to undermine home rule through bad laws like SB 180. This ties the hands of local governments working to rein in destructive development practices and paves the way for more sprawl and destruction of green spaces. I advocated for the County to join litigation efforts fighting the state's overreach, but they decided not to do so. SB 180 expires in 2027, but I am firmly committed to fight the State's attempts to undermine our local home rule authority, which has been enshrined in the State's Constitution since 1968.
No, they are not adequate. The current Council ignored its own staff's recommendation to implement a hybrid or mandatory Low-Impact Development Framework. The current Council refuses to enforce Chapter 50 of the stormwater code county-wide. They also voted to amend Chapter 72 of the County's Land Development Code to eliminate public participation in the development approval process and add a $650 fee that residents must pay to appeal staff decisions. The County's Transform386 flooding recovery program has been poorly implemented. I would work hard to reestablish Chapter 72, enforce Chapter 50 across all municipalities, and implement at least a hybrid-mandatory Low-Impact Development framework.
For nearly 20 years, I served on Volusia County's beaches as an Ocean Rescue lifeguard, EMT, law enforcement officer, and Beach Patrol Captain. That experience taught me that the best beach management works with natural coastal processes, not against them. I support restoring dunes through native vegetation, dune fencing, and preserving natural wrack and sargassum lines that help trap sand and reduce erosion. I support revetments where appropriate to protect critical infrastructure, but I do not support widespread hard armoring such as seawalls. I also oppose using incompatible river or inlet dredge material for beach renourishment. Beach restoration should use compatible sand and focus on long-term resilience, environmental stewardship,
Volusia County's biggest challenges—housing affordability, water quality, flooding, transportation, and economic development—do not stop at city limits. As a County Council member, I would prioritize regular coordination among municipalities, county government, regional agencies, and community stakeholders. We need a shared understanding of which types of growth are compatible with responsible stewardship of our land and water resources. Growth is inevitable, but growth must pay for growth. More sprawl is not a housing affordability strategy. We need thoughtful growth, strategic redevelopment, and regional cooperation to improve affordability, protect water quality, reduce flooding, and preserve our quality of life.
I support strengthening both programs and am in favor of amending Volusia Forever to require voter approval before any program lands can be sold, transferred, or repurposed. Volusia County voters have twice approved these conservation programs with the understanding that these lands would be preserved for future generations. Decisions about their disposal should not rest solely with a majority or supermajority of the County Council. If the public entrusted these lands to conservation, the public should have the final say on whether they are ever used for another purpose.
