NSB News will have results of the South Carolina Republican primary and what it means for Florida...

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GOP presidential results: Beauty contests in the doldrums of February

By Stan Escudero

Chief political blogger for NSB News

DAYTONA BEACH SHORES -- In the past week Mitt Romney won big in Nevada, where he took 50% of the vote (55% in 2008) and Rick Santorum swept the three beauty contests in Minnesota, Missouri and Colorado.

Ho-Hum.

Greater New Smyrna Beach included in new redistricting plan

NEW SYRNA BEACH -- Following the introduction of a compromise redistricting plan scheduled for final passage in the Florida House and Senate this week, Representative Sandy Adams announced she will declare her candidacy for the new District 7, based in Seminole County and including parts of Orange and Volusia counties.

“I strongly believe in public service and working to make our nation’s economy stronger and more secure," Adams said Monday.

NSBNews.net photo by Sera Frederick / Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi introduces Mitt Romney and his wife, Ann, to 2,500 supporters in Ormond Beach on Sunday evening.

ORMOND BEACH -- State Attorney General Pam Bondi was here Sunday night to support Mitt Romney at the big rally, but where were other Sunshine State Republican office holders? NSB News reached out to the offices of U.S. Senator Marco Rubio, Congressman John Mica, Congresswoman Sandy Adams and Gov. Rick Scott.

Both the Rubio and Scott camps said they were remaining nuetral -- at least for the time being.

Frontrunner calls Gingrich 'Washington insider'

NSBNews.net photo by Henry Frederick / Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi claps as Mitt Romney fires up the crowd in Ormond Beach on Sunday night.

ORMOND BEACH -- Like clockwork, Republican frontrunner Mitt Romney arrived at 6 p.m. to a raucous crowd 2,500 supporters with an opening question: "Are you ready to send Barack Obama home to Chicago?" The crowd roared with a yes.

"This is a decision point for this country," Romney said, adding Obama represents big government while he supports one that is small and simple. "If I'm president of the United States, we'll get rid of Obamacare," Romney said, drawing an even bigger roar.

Photo for NSB News by Joe Raedle /Getty Images

Mitt Romney campaigns in West Palm Beach earlier this month. He'll be in Ormond Beach Sunday evening for a big campaign rally in advance of the Jan. 31 Republican primary.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Mitt Romney is making a campaign stop in Ormond Beach Sunday and nobody is more thrilled about it than New Smyrna Beach's Joe Stich, GOP Volusia County chair.

"I think there's a lot of support here for Romney. It's a positive thing that he's coming here," Stich told NSB News this afternoon in confirming the Republican presidential hopeful's local visit, one day after South Carolina's primary.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Ellen Darden has withdrawn her name as an announced candidate for the Volusia County Council seat representing Southeast Volusia.

Darden notified NSBNews.net in an e-mail, stating in part: "I have made the decision to end my candidacy for the District 3 seat on the County Council."

She added, "After a number of weeks in discussion with my husband about this race, I have made the decision not to continue.

NSBNews.net photo by Henry Frederick / Volusia County Councilman Frank Bruno is tops in campaign contributions in the 2012 elections in his bid for state senator with $118,700 as of Friday, and NSBNews.net is first with the story.

DELAND — Frank Bruno's campaign for state senate announced today that the Democrat has generated a six-figure haul in campaign contributions from hundreds of donors across the voting district.

The total as of 1 p.m. today is $118,700 for Volusia County Council Chairman Bruno in his race race for the seat held by term-limited Evelyn Lynn. His likely Republican opponent is Republican State Rep. Dorothy Hukill.

“The outpouring of support from hundreds of supporters in this community sends a strong message to Tallahassee: it’s time for a change in leadership,” Bruno told NSBNews.net.

Ellen Darden, president of the New Smyrna Beach Board of Realtors, is making a second consecutive run for the district 3 seat on the Volusia County Council. At this point, her competition would come from New Smyrna Beach Vice Mayor and Commissioner Jim Hathaway, shown in the smaller photo

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Ellen Darden announced today that she is running in the 2012 election for the County Council seat held by outgoing Joie Alexander, who is not seeking re-election to that post.

Darden said she spoke with the incumbent before throwing her name in the ring for the position that represents Southeast Volusia. “I have spoken to Councilwoman Alexander, and she is definitely not running again for the District 3 seat,” Darden said.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH – Longtime New Smyrna Beach Commissioner and Vice Mayor Jim Hathaway announced Tuesday his candidacy for the district 3 seat on the Volusia County Council seat held by incumbent Joie Alexander, who is not seeking re-election.

“I have spent the last 17 years of my life dedicated to common sense government, smart budgeting, and responsible growth in New Smyrna Beach,” Hathaway said. “After consulting with my family and deep consideration, I feel the time is right to bring my experience and knowledge to a broader citizenry."

Hathaway, 58, has been elected four times as a commissioner by the citizens of New Smyrna Beach, during which his peers on the commission have tabbed him as vice mayor five times. He has represented the City of New Smyrna Beach on various boards, councils, and committees through the Florida League of Cities including serving on the board of directors.

Hathaway is also the current vice president of the Volusia League of Cities and serves on its executive committee. He was formerly a trustee of the New Smyrna Beach Fire Pension Board.

Born and raised in New Smyrna Beach, Hathaway was a 1971 graduate of New Smyrna Beach High School

NSBNEWS.net and VolusiaNews.net provide 24/7 online-media coverage for a 21st-century world

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- First-term Congresswoman Suzanne Kosmas conceded two hours after the polls closed in Tuesday's general elections with the huge Republican-voter wave of discontent in Washington that glided Sandy Adams of Orange County to an easy victory.

With all 241 voting precincts reporting in the 24th congressional district that comprises parts of Volusia, Orange, Seminole and Brevard counties, Adams, a former sheriff's deputy and state legislator, received nearly 60 percent of the votes, 145,801 to 98,491.

Despite the crushing defeat, Kosmas was upbeat at an otherwise somber Democratic headquarters on Canal Street where she thanked supporters, and with class, issued a statement praising Adams for the big win.

"First I would like to thank all my supporters and all who have worked so hard in this election. I truly appreciate all that you have done to support our fight for the priorities of Central Florida.

"Earlier this evening, I called Sandy Adams to congratulate her on a hard fought victory. America is the greatest country in the world because we have the greatest democracy in the world, and I have the utmost respect for our political process.

Party Lines Elections Notebook

Gov. Scott confident ObamaCare will be repealed by High Court

TALLAHASSEE -- Gov. Rick Scott released a statement Tuesday regarding ObamaCare going to the the U.S. Supreme Court, saying in part he hopes that it is repealed by the end of next year.

“Today’s news that the U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments next March in the Florida lawsuit against ObamaCare is a tremendous step in the fight against the job-killing federal mandate.

"With this news, I am hopeful that ObamaCare will be repealed by the end of 2012 and we can put a stop to further tax increases, additional job losses,

Elections

Headlines

Greater New Smyrna Beach included in new redistricting plan

Party Lines Elections Notebook

Mitt Romney has a fight on his hands with Jan. 31 Florida primary

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