Finances, Findell continue as top campaign topics in Lake Helen

By Pat Hatfield
BEACON STAFF WRITER

posted Oct 7, 2008 - 12:09:15am

Two of Lake Helen's five City Commission seats are up for election.

Incumbent Lou Benton faces challenger Cameron Lane for the Zone 4 seat, and incumbent Alan "Cookie" Cooke faces challenger Vernon Burton for the Zone 2 seat.

Though commissioners represent a particular zone, they are elected by the city at large — every registered voter can vote in every race. Commissioners are elected for two-year terms.

It's a hot election, with continuing dissension over whether Lake Helen should continue to employ City Administrator Don Findell.

Last month, city commissioners voted 3-2 to ask Findell to withdraw his resignation, with Benton and Ann Robbins voting no. Cooke, along with Mayor Joan Duffy and Commissioner Buddy Snowden, was one of the three voting to retain Findell's services.

Zone 2: Cooke vs. Burton

Zone 2, the southwest quadrant, covers everything south of Main Street and west of Euclid Avenue in Lake Helen. Candidates Cooke and Burton agree on one thing for Zone 2: they both want to limit Lake Helen's growth.

Cooke

When Alan Cooke, 66, ran for election two years ago to represent Zone 2, he was one of those who wanted to oust Findell. He and other Lake Helen residents felt the administrator's services were too expensive, at $130,000 a year for salary and benefits.

Like the mayor, who also was elected after declaring Findell should go, Cooke said, over time, he came to appreciate Findell's contributions. Lake Helen needs a planner, Cooke said, and he discovered Findell's salary isn't out of line for what he does. Cooke discovered a consulting firm would charge more than $100 an hour.

It was a tough decision to change his stance.

"I've learned a lot while being commissioner," Cooke said. "It's a whole different ball game when you're sitting in the Commission Chambers, versus being an observer."

It boils down to balance and doing what's best for Lake Helen and its residents.

Cooke said he wants to win the election, but not badly enough to oust Findell only for political reasons.

Cooke served in the U.S. Army National Guard in New Jersey. He's lived in Volusia County for 19 years, the last four in Lake Helen. An excavating contractor by trade, he donated services toward construction of Lake Helen's Creative Arts Cafe. Cooke served on the Volusia Soil and Water Conservation District Board for 16 years.

In his next term, Cooke said, "I'll be working big-time on a grant for stormwater facilities through St. Johns Water Management District for the whole city."

He will also continue to work for affordable housing for seniors in Lake Helen, in partnership with the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

Cooke has two children and four grandchildren.

Burton

Vernon Burton, 60, ran against unsuccessfully against Cooke in the last campaign.

Again, Findell is a talking point.

Burton said, "If we have a city administrator, he should be more accountable to the City Commission."

Burton said the city needs good stewards over revenues, and Findell's position could have been advertised at a lower salary, with Findell welcome to apply.

Burton served as chairman of Lake Helen's Parks and Recreation Board, and currently serves on the city's planning board.

He is a member of the African American Advisory Committee of Volusia County Schools, and he's proud he was able to get African-American contestants to enter the Miss Lake Helen-Cassadaga Beauty Pageant.

Burton was a peace officer for the New York City Department of Corrections until he was shot in the line of duty 1982.

He received a Medal of Valor for saving his partner, he said.

Burton then went into real-estate development.

He and his wife, Jerrylyn, have lived in Lake Helen since 1999, in a house he inherited from his mother. The couple have nine children. Burton is currently an independent PRIMERICA Financial Services agent.

In the Zone 2 race, Burton has received the most in contributions to date, according to campaign-finance information provided by City Clerk Nancy Wilson Oct. 2. After subtracting his own $662.85 loan to the campaign and a $100 donation from his wife, Burton had $893.54 in contributions. Cooke had $170 in contributions, including his own $100 loan.

Zone 4: Benton vs. Lane

Lake Helen residents elect their commission members for two-year terms. In Zone 4, the choice is between a two-term incumbent and a political newcomer to represent the zone that is the city's northeast quadrant, covering the area north of Main Street and Lemon Avenue and east of Euclid Avenue.

Benton

Incumbent Commissioner Lou Benton, 68, said he offers "60 years of common sense." He is completing his second term as Lake Helen Commissioner, and wants a third term.

He believes Lake Helen needs a city administrator, but not Findell.

But Findell's job isn't the only concern.

"Spending's got to be cut," Benton said.

Benton served on Lake Helen's planning board for seven years, and has been involved with the city in other capacities for 11 years.

Benton said he's never missed a meeting, and believes in keeping his commitments.

The commissioner said he does and will speak honestly. "I'll tell you the good and tell you the bad."

Taking the power of eminent domain from the City Commission and giving it to the voters is an accomplishment he's proud of. That, he said, keeps a developer from coming in and enticing commissioners into declaring an area blighted to build condos or the like.

"Instead, the vote goes to the people on the referendum," he said.

Benton is also proud of an ordinance that increases to 2,500 feet the required distance between the residence of a sexual predator and parks, schools and other places children congregate.

Benton, who is single, has lived in Lake Helen for about 16 years. He's a semi-retired carpenter who still drives the Ford pickup he bought in 1978.

Lane

Cameron Lane is seeking public office for the first time. He said he has no ax to grind, and wants to offer his services to the city.

Lane served on the Countryside PUD (planned-unit development) board in Port Orange for 16 years. The development includes Countryside Lakes, apartments for assisted-living owned by Lane and his brother and sister.

"It's kind of like a city in a city," Lane said of the PUD. Serving on it's board, he said, gave him good experience for the office he seeks in Lake Helen.

"I want to support the city with my time and effort, and not just enjoy living in Lake Helen," Lane said.

He said Findell fills the city administrator job well, and the position is needed.

Lane, 46, supports Lake Helen's stance on limited growth, as expressed in the city's comprehensive plan.

Lane and his wife, Teresa, have lived in Lake Helen for the past eight years. They have three children.

Lane first moved to Lake Helen with his parents when he was 4 years old. His parents ran the DeLand Convalescent Center in DeLand when he was growing up. Lane's mom, Patricia Snowden Lane, is City Commissioner Buddy Snowden's cousin.

As of Oct. 2, Lane had reported campaign contributions of $2,300, including $1,000 from the Lane Family and $500 from Patricia Lane. Benton had $1,060 in contributions, including $400 he loaned his own campaign.

For complete Lake Helen campaign funding information click here.

— pat@beacononlinenews.com

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