Volusia Sheriff Calls County Council Members "Scumbags"

DeLand, FL - An eventful day on the Volusia County Council got even more so at the very end. By a 6-1 vote, Council members agreed yesterday (December 4th) to mount another legal challenge on Amendment 10 based on concerns it will cost taxpayers millions of dollars. That's the same measure which was backed hard by Volusia Sheriff Mike Chitwood and over 50% of Volusia voters during last month's elections, with the Sheriff saying its passage would allow him more autonomy to run his department as he saw fit without needing VCC approval, especially in terms of budget and personnel. The Sheriff vented on social media afterward, calling everyone who voted for renewing the legal challenge "scumbags" along with Volusia County Attorney Dan Eckert, who brought the topic up near the end of the meeting. Chitwood - who also demanded on Twitter that County Chair Ed Kelley step down because he's an "abysmal failure" in his position - is expected to address the media later this morning to talk more about his plans to fight, which he said will be in partnership with the Florida Sheriffs Association.

Your vote in Volusia County doesn't count. The ruling class will do anything to hold on to power. This lawsuit has no merit. Myself & the @FLSheriffs will vehemently fight this attack on our democracy. Ed Kelley needs to step down - abysmal failure as county chair.

— Mike Chitwood (@SheriffChitwood) December 4, 2018

Amendment 10's approval is also forcing Volusia to make its tax collector job an elected position instead of a county employee. Only District 4's Heather Post voted against the move, saying that it was a waste of time and money based in part on prior legal challenges to Amendment 10 which Volusia County lost. Other council members - including the soon-to-be departed Pat Patterson in District 1 and Kelley - argued that Amendment 10 also affected other areas and that it's still not clear if the measure is legal, even though the Florida Supreme Court ruled in September it should stay on the midterm ballot. This move came at the end of the same meeting where the VCC increased impact fees and gave preliminary approval for Silver Airways to start daily flights next month from Daytona Beach International Airport.