- September 9, 2024
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A new political coalition aimed at helping residents identify conservative candidates running for local office has been formed in Ormond Beach.
The Conservative Citizens of Ormond Beach coalition was founded by resident Al Stewart about three weeks ago. Stewart, a pastor at Greater Grace Chapel in Holly Hill, said he believes politics were always meant to be about ideology.
"What we believe is what we believe, then people go in and they're able to make a choice," Stewart said. "Now obviously, today, we've gotten so far away from that."
Since candidates are able to change political parties to get elected, Stewart said the coalition's aim, which is co-chaired by Pamela Jordan, is to inform voters of which local candidates hold conservative values, particularly for nonpartisan races.
The Ormond Beach City Commission, Volusia County Council and Volusia County School Board are all nonpartisan.
And while this may be so, Stewart said liberal candidates bring with them such values to local issues — from environmental ordinances to views on property tax hikes.
The coalition will hold a candidate's forum on Thursday, Aug. 8, from 6-8 p.m. at Grace Community Church, located at 1060 W. Granada Blvd. Three candidates — which have already been endorsed by the coalition — will participate: Kristin Deaton, who is running to represent Zone 3 on the City Commission; Jason Leslie, who is running for Ormond Beach Mayor; and Donna Brosemer, who is running to represent District 4 on the School Board. Their opponents — Daniel Dragone and Barbara Bonarrigo, for Zone 3; Susan Persis for mayor; and Sarah Marzilli and Carl Persis for School Board — were not invited to participate.
The endorsed candidates are Republicans, but Stewart said the coalition itself is not a strictly Republican organization.
"If there was a Democrat running, and they were more conservative, then we would support that because it's about the values," Stewart said. "That's what we're interested in."
This isn't Stewart's first brush with local government. For three years, he served on a town council in his home state of Connecticut, where he also ran for the state House.
His hope is that the coalition, which is working on forming its board, will grow and eventually be able to provide the community with a voter's guide. The mission, he said, is to "unclothe the wolf in sheep's clothing."
"If you have a party affiliation, you shouldn't hide from it," Stewart said. "You should be able to say, 'This is who I am. This what I'm about.'"
