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Politics

District 5: Bennett vs. 'New Election'

By AARON SHAROCKMAN, Times Staff Writer
Published October 28, 2007

The race in District 5 presents voters with one of the stranger choices in the history of the city: Jamie Bennett, incumbent and current council chairman, vs. "New Election."

If Bennett wins, he earns a second, full, four-year term. (He was first elected in 2001 to fill Larry Williams' council seat, then re-elected in 2003). If "New Election" wins, city voters will have to start the process over in District 5.

The one-man election is a quirk in city election law that was triggered when Bennett's official opponent, Chris Kelly, dropped out. It means Bennett likely will be re-elected.

But Bennett says he's not taking anything for granted.

"We're still out there running a campaign," said Bennett, 55, a 28-year city resident who owns a local lawn care business. "I'll go walking in some neighborhoods next week and the week after that."

Bennett also is hoping to target 13,000 voters with a campaign mail piece telling them not to vote for a new election.

The message is simple: If "New Election" happens to win, city taxpayers are looking at a nearly $250,000 bill to hold a special election.

James 'Jamie' Bennett

Bio: Age55. He owns a landscaping service called Lawn Order. He earned his bachelor's degree in biology in 1974 from Stetson University in DeLand, and then his master's degree in teaching in 1976. From 1976 to 1979, he served in the Peace Corps as a teacher in Kenya. Bennett, an Eagle Scout, is trained as a small-plane pilot. He is former chairman of the City Beautiful Commission, a volunteer board appointed by the City Council. He has served on the City Council since 2001. Assets: Residence, vehicles, IRA. Liabilities: Mortgages, credit cards. Source of income: Council salary, lawn business. Web site: www.electbennett.com.

[Last modified October 28, 2007, 14:06:41]