Jeff Brower, Danny Robins take seats on County Council

Posted On: January 7, 2021

“This is a brand new council – a brand new year,” Jeff Brower said Thursday morning. “I want a fresh start. And I believe you do too.”

With those words, Brower set the tone as he presided over his first Volusia County Council meeting as the new county chair. There was lots of excitement and talk of optimism and unity Thursday as Brower and newly-elected Council member Danny Robins were sworn into office. Also getting sworn in to office for another term on Thursday were returning, re-elected council members Heather Post and Billie Wheeler.

“I’m excited, and I just want everybody to remember: We work for you,” Robins said Thursday. “We are going to be headed in a great direction.”

The council customarily meets on Tuesdays. However, by county charter, the council’s organizational meeting is held on the first Thursday after the first Monday in January. While the council tackled some regular business, a block of the day was devoted to the ceremonies surrounding the new council members taking their oath of office, taking their seats on the dais and delivering hopeful messages about the tasks facing the council. At 10:01 a.m., Brower called the meeting into session with a single wrap of the chair’s gavel.

“I’m going to use this gavel to ring in a brand new year,” said Brower. “I look forward to serving with all of my colleagues.

Brower, Robins and other council members talked about the need to work together and listen to the voice of the people when deliberating and rendering decisions.

“You truly are the government. We are your servants,” Brower said. “The most important task that faces this council will be to bring people together.”

There also were plenty of references Thursday to putting behind the struggles and challenges of 2020. Councilwoman Post seemed to sum up those sentiments.

“If we can get through 2020, we can get through anything,” said Post.

Also Thursday, the council elected Wheeler to serve as the council’s 2021 vice chair. Council members also asked staff to make recommendations on scheduling some late afternoon meetings in the coming year that would go into the evening in order to make it more convenient for working people to attend.