Poll workers in Volusia County on Wednesday were preparing for a busy election season by training inside the Deltona City Hall.
This year's election will be even busier in Deltona because the mayor’s seat is up for grabs.
Mayor John Masiarczyk, who is the incumbent, is the city's first mayor. He termed out, took several years off, and then returned to reclaim his seat. He said this will be his last election.
Current Deltona City Commissioner Zenaida Denizac, who is also the former vice mayor, is running for the mayor’s seat. Newcomer Jody Lee Storozuk is the other challenger.
Storozuk was out of town and unavailable for an on-camera interview.
Denizac's biggest criticism of the current leadership is city leaders have not given economic development the priority it needs.
"We really need to hold people accountable and make economic development happen in our city," Denizac said.
With a population of more than 85,000, Deltona is the county's largest city, but it remains largely a bedroom community with few jobs — something both Denizac and Masiarczyk want to change.
"I'd want to see a lot of major redevelopment," Masiarczyk said. "I want bring those services that the people that are currently here want and need."
But that's where the similarities end.
Masiarczyk is retired. Denizac is a full-time teacher at Pine Ridge High School.
That difference, Masiarczyk said, is why he can devote more time to being mayor.
"This is not a part-time job," Masiarczyk said. "Although a lot of people think it is and the charter states it's part-time, it's really not."
Denizac countered the mayor's seat is part-time because the mayor and commissioners are policymakers who pass ordinances and approve the city budget.
Deltona has a strong city manager charter, not a strong mayor office.
Masiarczyk said he is slowly bringing economic development to the city and wants to see work continue into his next term.
Denizac, however, said the economic development isn't happening fast enough and the city needs new leadership.