Carl Persis resigning from County Council due to technicality to continue his run for Volusia County chair

DELAND -- In a surprising development today, Carl Persis resigned from his seat on the county council representing greater Ormond Beach, effective June 28, so he can continue his campaign for the office of Volusia County chair.

Because he's in the state's Deferred Retirement Option Program for early retirees from his tenure as principal with the Volusia County School District, he was required to have at least six months of separation from any other public service job, including elective office.

"I positioned myself for the 24/7 responsibilities for the chair's position by ending my service with Volusia County schools after 35 years," Persis said in a statement released by Volusia County government this afternoon.

He said he was not aware that he could not maintain a position in the public sector for at least six months following retirement as required by the DROP program, which was expected to earn him about $270,000 from his five years as a principal while in that program.

"Having learned this, I inquired whether I might serve the remainder of my term without compensation as I desired to do," Persis said. But because such an arrangement is not doable, Persis chose instead to resign, which would give him enough time to meet the technical requirements and serve as county chair, if elected. 

Persis pledged to stay close to County Council matters after the resignation on "weighty matters of Volusia County government while I campaign vigorously.

Persis is in a three-way race with Ted Doran, a Daytona Beach attorney and former chairman of the Halifax Advertising Authority Board, and Jason Davis, an Edgewater resident and Gulf War veteran. The winner of the Aug. 14 primary would have to win one more vote than 50 percent of the total to avoid a November general election runoff with the primary's second place finisher in the non-partisan race.

Here is a copy of the letter announcing the resignation of Volusia County Councilman Carl Persis.