Santiago Avila Jr. bests incumbent Heidi Herzberg in race for mayor of Deltona

Deltona's next mayor is Santiago Avila Jr.

Avila earned nearly 53% of the 26,566 votes cast, besting incumbent Mayor Heidi Herzberg.

All 13 precincts were reporting by 11:42 p.m.

The race to be Deltona's next mayor started with three candidates: Avila, Herzberg and Gus Kostianis, the latter of whom lost in the primary.

The primary election saw Herzberg receive about 48.8% of the 13,804 votes cast; Avila received about 35.5%, and Kostianis received about 15.7%.

Herzberg, 60, a longtime professional hairstylist, and Avila, 39, a small business owner, previously faced off in the 2018 Deltona mayoral election; Herzberg won with nearly 53% of the vote.

Herzberg also served as a commissioner from 2010 to 2018.

The mayor chairs commission meetings and serves as a figurehead. The term is four years with an annual salary of about $14,918.

Census estimates from July 2021 put the Deltona's at 95,782, making it the largest in Volusia County.

FLORIDA ELECTION RESULTS 2022: See results from local and statewide races

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New faces join Deltona City Commission

Three other commission races also were decided Tuesday night.

In the race for District 1, Tom Burbank, who ran against Brandy White, a well-known face in City Hall, earned more than 51.7% of the 3,472 votes cast.

In the race for District 3, current Vice Mayor Maritza Avila-Vazquez, who ran against newcomer Tara D'Errico, earned more than 56% of the 3,836 votes cast.

In the race for District 6, Jody Lee Storozuk, who ran against William "Bill" Coakley, earned more than 56% of the 4,534 votes cast.

The District 5 seat went to Stephen Colwell last month when his opponent Donald Freeman dropped out of the race.

Changes to charter

In addition to choosing new commissioners, Deltona residents voted in favor of changes to the charter.

Changing the charter: Deltona residents to vote on residency requirement of manager, attorney

With 11 out of 13 precincts reporting, more than 59% voted in favor of the city manager and in-house city attorney residing within Volusia County or within 25 miles of city boundaries.

More than 67% also voted in favor of modifying the charter by repealing superseded or obsolete provisions.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Avila bests incumbent Herzberg in race for mayor of Deltona