Deltona city commissioner resigns, citing health reasons
A Deltona city commissioner has resigned, citing a health condition that has affected her speech and kept her from attending in-person meetings since October.
Anita Bradford, who had less than a year left on her second term on the City Commission, submitted her letter of resignation Friday, she told The News-Journal on Tuesday.
Although she had not attended meetings in person, Bradford had participated in meetings remotely, using Zoom and a messenger to type her comments and questions.
Bradford said she wrestled with the decision to resign but ultimately concluded a replacement commissioner would be in a better position to help steer a city manager search and a strategic planning exercise.
Bradford: New financial disclosure forms not a factor
Bradford said her decision to resign has nothing to do with Form 6, a new requirement of city elected officials to disclose more detailed finances, including net worth, that has caused dozens of other commissioners and council members to resign statewide in the last month.
The new requirement, enacted by the Legislature last year, was cited by two Daytona Beach Shores council members whose resignations went into effect last week. And Orange City Council members William O'Connor and Casandra Jones have both resigned citing the invasiveness of the Form 6 questionnaire.
Bradford was first elected to Deltona's District 2 seat in 2016 by a 64-36 margin over Thomas Stauffenberg. Bradford was then reelected in 2020 when her only opponent, now-Mayor Santiago Avila Jr., dropped out before qualifying.
"My focus when I got elected to the City Commission was to bring jobs to Deltona so our residents could eat, sleep and work in Deltona," she said.
Citing the arrival of a hulking Amazon distribution center, two new hospitals in her district and other expansions of manufacturing and industrial jobs, Bradford said she believes the quality of life for Deltona residents has improved.
Who fills the vacancy on the Deltona City Commission?
In a news release, the city announced her resignation was effective immediately, giving the City Commission until Jan. 29 to fill the vacancy she leaves.
District 2 covers northwestern Deltona. Any resident interested in filling the rest of Bradford's term, through the Nov. 5 election, can send a resume or letter of interest to the City Clerk's Office, 2345 Providence Blvd., 2nd Floor, Deltona, FL 32725, or by email to jraftery@deltona.gov.
The deadline to apply is noon, Jan. 22.
The remaining six commissioners are required by law to vote to fill the vacancy within 30 days.
Sudden Resignations: Deltona commissioners react to departure of city manager, deputy manager
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Deltona residents can apply to fill vacancy on City Commission
