- October 12, 2024
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Port Orange Mayor Don Burnette filed to run Monday 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. This led to his decision to run for Volusia County Council.
"I still feel like I have something to offer," Burnette said. "As far as Volusia County, I think that we need to work on ... I say 'Unify Volusia.'"
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 since 2004, where he chairs the finance committee. 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 currently eyeing include supporting public safety as well as being more proactive with infrastructure needs, something he's advocated for as a representative on the Roundtable of Volusia County Elected Officials, which is working towards creating a transportation subcommittee.
"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 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.
