13 Candidates Vie For DeLand Commission Spot

Posted

DeLand, FL - An open seat on DeLand's city commission has drawn quite a bit of interest.

According to Communication Information Specialist Chris Graham, the city has received 13 applications.

The names of the candidates are William Christen, Bernice Comella, Savannah-Jane Griffin, Tabatha Grimes, David Keith, David Larrabee, Donald Liska, Buz Nesbit, Charles Paiva, Eugene Phillips, Thomas Robertson, Mary Swiderski and Reginald Williams. DeLand residents can see each person's application on the city's website. The open seat is due to the fact that Seat 2 Commissioner Jeffrey Hunter was suspended by Governor Rick Scott after being arrested in June on a drug charge. The person chosen for the spot would serve through the end of the term, which is November 2020, or until such time as Governor Scott lifts Hunter's suspension. The plan is for the current members of the commission to sit down next Monday to discuss the applications and create a short list. They are then scheduled to interview those on the shortlist on Thursday, August 9 during a public meeting. The appointee is scheduled to be sworn into office at the beginning of the City Commission’s August 20 meeting.