It's Fuqua vs. Reinhart in Volusia Council District 2 race

DAYTONA BEACH — Earlier this year, it looked like the race for the Volusia County Council District 2 post was going to be a four-person slugfest.

Then Port Orange City Councilman Chase Tramont dropped out to run for a state legislative seat. Not too long after that, longtime Daytona Beach resident Paul Zimmerman said health concerns were forcing him to bow out.

So that has left Danny Fuqua and Matt Reinhart in a one-on-one matchup that will be decided in the Nov. 8 general election.

The winner will be sworn into office in January for the position that pays $47,797 annually.

Billie Wheeler is the current District 2 Council representative, but she decided not to seek re-election.

So far Fuqua is winning the fundraising competition, with a little over $80,100 in his campaign coffers. Reinhart has reported raising close to $43,000.

Here's what happened in August's Volusia County Council primary election races: It's Jake Johansson and Doug Pettit in runoff for Volusia County Council at-large seat

How the Volusia County Council District 2 race evolved: Port Orange council's Chase Tramont running for Volusia County Council; Billie Wheeler won't seek re-election

Volusia County Council chairman accused of using meeting to promote his slate of candidates: Volusia County Council explodes in anger over environmental meeting

Council terms are normally for four years, but the District 2 and 4 candidates are competing for two-year terms this election because of redistricting. Every 10 years after the U.S. Census numbers are released, voting zone boundaries are redrawn to incorporate changes in population and maintain similar numbers of people in each district.

To maintain the staggering of Council elections mandated by the County Charter, the winners of the District 2 and 4 races will be up for re-election in 2024. Winners of the District 1, 3, 5 and at-large seats will be elected to four-year terms this year and be up for re-election in 2026.

Meet Volusia Council candidate Danny Fuqua

Fuqua is 58 years old, and retired from serving on active duty in the military for nearly 30 years. He ran for the Daytona Beach City Commission Zone 1 seat several years ago, but he fell short in that bid. He has never held an elected position before.

Fuqua said one of his top three priorities is increasing the amount of affordable housing in District 2. On the beachside, District 2 includes Ponce Inlet, Wilbur by the Sea, Daytona Beach Shores and Daytona Beach to the southern city limit of Ormond Beach. The mainland portion of the district includes Daytona Beach as far west as Daytona International Speedway, South Daytona and about half of Port Orange, with boundaries stopping at Dunlawton Boulevard and Tomoka Farms Road.

Fuqua said he also believes "it’s important to work with our municipalities within District 2 and countywide." And his other top priority is "premium quality of life for all Volusia residents."

"I’m running for Volusia County Council District 2 to make sure the people of District 2 receive the support and representation they deserve," he said. "We are in critical need of affordable housing and redevelopment. Working with the municipalities within District 2, I believe the impact can be tremendous and beneficial to all residents and will ultimately impact the quality of life for all."

Fuqua said his military service has equipped him to serve in a position of leadership, and helped him learn to "handle critical decisions that impact others with extreme care and compassion."

He wants to make Volusia County a place all residents can afford to work, live and play.

More about Volusia Council candidate Matt Reinhart

Reinhart is 57 years old and currently working for the city of New Smyrna Beach. He has never held elected office before.

He started his career with Volusia County in 1986 as a corrections officer trainee at the old jail in Deland and worked his way up the ranks. He retired as the warden for the Division of Corrections in 2017.

His responsibilities included managing a $30 million budget, supervising approximately 350 employees and subcontractors, and overseeing the care, custody and control of 1,500 inmates. He was also responsible for reviewing contracts and implementing county and division policies.

"I spent my lifetime protecting and serving the residents of Volusia County, and I will continue to do so as a councilman," Reinhart said.

His top three priorities are finding ways to increase small business sustainability, managing the county budget to protect the public’s tax dollars and supporting the county's first responders "to provide better services and maintain the safety of our county."

"Due to my experience working for the county of Volusia for over 30 years, I saw the daily operations of county government at work, and I will bring a fresh perspective and understanding to the County Council," Reinhart said.

He wants to help bring to Volusia County "more industry, better paying jobs and possibly more trade schools to the area. In doing so, I would ensure focus continues on responsible growth and affordable housing."

Volusia's impact fees being studied

Volusia councilmembers have recently discussed raising impact fees. Doing that any time soon could be a mistake, Fuqua said.

"As of right now, we're looking at trying to get affordable housing," he said. "Raising impact fees will just pass that cost on to the consumer."

With people already struggling to get into housing, now might be the wrong time to raise impact fees, he said.

Fuqua would be OK with assessing higher fees on someone moving into Florida who's buying a luxury home. But he would want to give a big break to first responders, teachers and members of the military.

Reinhart said he was always concerned about where impact fee dollars wound up, so he talked to some builders to educate himself about the way the fees work.

"I do think the fees are necessary for infrastructure," he said.

With people continuing to move to Florida and Volusia County in particular, the fees will be important to handle the influx, he said.

"Anytime we can remove the burden for taxpayers, I'm all for that," Reinhart said.

Should the Volusia fairgrounds be reinvented?

Councilmembers have also recently discussed vastly improving the Volusia County fairgrounds on State Road 44 near Interstate 4. Ideas include adding an open-air arena, a sports complex with multiple fields and courts, splash park, kayak ramp, walking and running paths, an early Florida historical village, environmental educational center, new landscaping, shaded rest areas and an RV park.

Fuqua likes the vision.

"I would be in agreement with that 100%," he said. "I'm all for anything that will enhance the lives of citizens of Volusia County, allow them to enjoy natural beauty and give them something to do."

He said if some of those things are developed on the fairgrounds they could bring in more tax revenue, which would be needed to maintain the site if it evolves into something far beyond what it is now.

Fuqua said it's a good property for people to access since it's centrally located in Volusia County, and it's not near houses so most residents wouldn't be bothered by increased traffic and noise.

Reinhart is looking at the ideas for reinventing the fairgrounds more cautiously.

"I can respect the fact they want a masterplan," he said. "You can have a vision or a dream, and then you have reality. Operating costs go up each year. How much money can we receive?"

Reinhart said he wouldn't want the need for operating and maintenance money for the fairgrounds to evolve into a new half-cent sales tax. But he does think the grounds need to be taken care of.

"I spent a lot of time there for 52 years," he said.

He's open to the idea of building a new amphitheater to keep concertgoers' money they spend on everything from shows to hotels to restaurants in Volusia County. But he thinks the county should start by making basic improvements to the site first with things such as drainage and parking.

After those initial improvements are made, then other upgrades, their costs and potential revenue sources could be explored.

"I like that the conversation is happening, but we also need to listen to constituents," Reinhart said.

You can reach Eileen at Eileen.Zaffiro@news-jrnl.com

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Volusia County voters to choose new District 2 representative Nov. 8