Our take: Election Results
Two veteran public servants were picked off by candidates who had more energy or money.
DeDe Schaffner, who has dedicated a large part of her life to helping disadvantaged students, lost narrowly to Abby Sanchez for School Board District #3. Abby earned 29,426 votes to DeDe’s 28,392.
In the case of Ray Valdes, his opponent, Joel Greenberg, waged a campaign of innuendo supported by a nearby newspaper and a much larger war chest. Let’s hope Mr. Greenberg turns out better in office than some recent Osceola County victors.
On the local level, Patrick Austin, a lifelong resident of the area, who until qualifying day, lived in another district, won over Steve Dellasala by 113 votes to become Sanford City Commissioner for District #3. Patrick noted his many years as leader of the Seminole High Boosters Club and that probably helped immensely over Steve’s impressive resume.
Grant Maloy, a former Seminole County Commissioner, will be the next Clerk of the Court. He had the endorsement of retiring clerk, Maryanne Morse. Based on his past record in public office, the County’s finances and records will be in good hands.
One hundred and twenty miles away in Jacksonville, two officials who have had a presence in Sanford were thrown out of office.
Our former Congressional Representative, Corrine Brown, laboring under an indictment of wrongful use of campaign funds, lost in a newly configured district to primary opponent Al Lawson. Brown represented downtown Sanford for many years. While on the House Committee on Transportation, she allowed Amtrak to close its Sanford station, forcing local rail passengers to travel to Winter Park or DeLand.
Angela Corey, who unwisely brought a direct indictment in the Martin-Zimmermann fiasco, also went down to defeat. Impaneling a Grand Jury would have given her cover. When she, as the State’s Attorney representing the prosecution, lost the case, both sides were mad. One for bringing a case that had little chance of success based on the evidence at hand and the other for losing it.
