Campaign Issues

Volusia County grapples with a range of pressing challenges—be it environmental concerns, economic development, or community welfare. With his proven leadership and innovative approach, J. David Sosa is well-equipped to tackle these issues head-on, fostering a vibrant and thriving community where everyone can flourish.

Flooding in District 5: Restoring Local Control to Fight Flooding Effectively

As your candidate for Volusia County Council District 5, I’m Julio “David” Sosa, and flooding remains one of my top passions and priorities. Living in Deltona since 2001 and having served as a City Commissioner, I’ve witnessed the heartbreak and frustration flooding causes in our communities—prolonged standing water in neighborhoods like Theresa Basin, McGarity Basin, and Providence Basin after storms like Hurricanes Ian, Milton, and others; roads closed for weeks or months; homes damaged; and families left vulnerable.

These aren’t isolated incidents; studies and basin analyses show our low-lying areas, chain-of-lakes systems, and aging infrastructure make us highly susceptible to intense rainfall, runoff from development, and slow recession times.

But here’s the critical challenge we’re facing right now: Last year’s Senate Bill 180 (SB 180, enacted in 2025 as Chapter 2025-190, Laws of Florida) has stripped away much of the local control our elected officials need to address these issues head-on. This legislation, originally framed as hurricane relief, includes provisions (notably Sections 18 and 28) that prohibit local governments in disaster-declared areas—including Volusia County—from adopting or enforcing comprehensive plan amendments, land development regulations, moratoriums, or other measures deemed “more restrictive or burdensome” than pre-storm rules.

This applies retroactively from August 2024 and extends forward (through October 2027 for recent storms, and one year after future hurricanes within 100 miles of the track).

The result? Local leaders in Deltona, DeBary, and across Volusia are handcuffed from implementing stronger stormwater requirements, development pauses in flood-prone areas, updated resilience standards, or targeted mitigation that could prevent future flooding—exactly the tools needed to protect residents.

This overreach from Tallahassee undermines home rule and prioritizes unchecked development over community safety. In Deltona, for example, efforts to pause growth until stormwater fixes catch up have faced threats of lawsuits under SB 180, even as flooding persists due to inadequate drainage in older subdivisions.

As your County Councilmember, I will fight to restore local control and remove Tallahassee’s grip on our flood solutions.

I will advocate in Tallahassee for the repeal or major reform of SB 180’s restrictive provisions, supporting efforts like those in ongoing bills (e.g., amendments proposed in 2026 sessions) to narrow its scope, allow exceptions for stormwater/flood management moratoria, and eliminate the vague “more restrictive or burdensome” language that chills local action.
I’ll work with our state delegation, water management districts, and groups like 1000 Friends of Florida (who have challenged SB 180 in court) to push legislation that returns authority to local elected officials—empowering Volusia County to enforce stronger regulations, secure grants for pumping stations, enhanced storage, wetland improvements, and property elevation programs without state interference.
On the Council, I’ll continue prioritizing funding for proven projects (like Transform386-funded initiatives in Deltona for Elkcam Boulevard, Sweet Gum Lake, and basin-wide upgrades) while demanding accountability and resident input to ensure every dollar addresses real flooding risks.

Flooding is personal to me—it’s about protecting our families, homes, and future in Deltona and DeBary. Tallahassee shouldn’t dictate how we handle our local water challenges; we know our neighborhoods best.

If you’re tired of state overreach blocking solutions, join me in this fight.
Share your flooding story or concerns—your experiences fuel my determination.

Let’s restore local power, secure real mitigation, and build a drier, safer District 5.
Contact me to get involved:
Phone/Text: 321-299-4797
Email: DavidSosa4VolusiaCounty@gmail.com

Together, we’ll bring control back home where it belongs!

Transportation & Traffic Congestion: A Key Issue for District 5

A Key Issue for District 5

As your candidate for Volusia County Council District 5, I’m Julio “David” Sosa, and I’m deeply committed to tackling the growing traffic nightmare in Deltona, DeBary, and across our district. For years, I’ve heard from residents frustrated by endless backups on I-4, gridlocked local roads like Howland Boulevard, Elkcam Boulevard, SR 415, and Highway 17-92 and the daily commute turning into hours of stress. As a longtime Deltona resident since 2001 and former City Commissioner, I’ve seen how over development has overloaded our infrastructure—rapid residential and commercial growth without matching road, bridge, and transit improvements has turned our once-manageable commutes into bottlenecks.

The Challenges We’re Facing

I-4 Congestion — Interstate 4 through DeBary and Deltona is one of Central Florida’s worst choke points. Backups are routine, especially around the St. Johns River Bridge, Saxon Boulevard, Dirksen Drive/DeBary Avenue, and into Seminole County.
Incidents like crashes, breakdowns, or road depressions (as seen in recent closures) cause massive delays—sometimes turning short trips into hour-plus crawls. Residents report eastbound and westbound traffic crawling from Deltona into Lake Mary, with travel times ballooning five times normal during peak hours or events.
Local Road Strain from Over development — Deltona’s explosive growth has increased vehicle volumes dramatically during commuter hours. Frustrated drivers cut through neighborhoods, leading to speeding, safety concerns, and quality-of-life complaints. Roads like Howland Blvd, Providence Blvd, and others face heavy congestion, potholes, and wear from unchecked development without adequate upgrades.
Aging Infrastructure & Limited Capacity — While projects like the I-4 Ultimate and Beyond the Ultimate have added express lanes farther south, our northern Volusia stretch lags. The St. Johns River Bridge remains a notorious bottleneck, and local arteries haven’t kept pace with population growth. Over development exacerbates runoff, flooding (tying into my flooding priority), and overall strain on roads.

What I’ll Fight For on the County Council

I’m ready to work collaboratively with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), our state delegation, Volusia County partners, and local cities to deliver real relief.

My plan includes:

• Accelerating I-4 Improvements — Push to fast-track extensions of I-4 Express lanes into Seminole and Volusia counties, including north of the current limits. Support resolutions (like those from Deltona and Seminole) urging FDOT to prioritize congestion relief at key spots like the St. Johns River Bridge, DeBary, and Deltona. Advocate for the ongoing I-4 North Volusia PD&E Study to move quickly toward widening, auxiliary lanes, and better flow.

Securing Grants & Funding — Aggressively pursue federal and state grants (FEMA, FHWA, FDOT programs like Moving I-4 Forward, or Transportation Disadvantaged grants) for road repairs, widening, smart traffic signals, and transit enhancements. I’ll fight for Volusia’s fair share to fix potholes, resurface worn sections, and add capacity without unnecessary tax hikes.
Responsible Growth & Local Control — Tie transportation planning to controlled development—ensure new projects include impact fees that fund road upgrades, not just pad developers’ pockets. Oppose over development that worsens congestion and flooding; support smarter planning to match infrastructure to growth.
Improving Local Mobility — Work on traffic calming in neighborhoods, better public transit options (building on VoTran and on-demand pilots), and safe multimodal improvements like sidewalks and bike paths to reduce car dependency.
Traffic congestion wastes time, fuel, and patience—it’s hurting families, commuters heading to Orlando or Daytona, and our local economy. I’m passionate about this because it’s personal: my family deals with it daily, just like yours. We need a County Council member who will partner with FDOT, secure every available dollar, and demand accountability to ease the burden.

If traffic has impacted your commute, safety, or daily life—share your story with me. Your experiences drive my fight for better roads and smarter solutions.

Let’s reduce the gridlock and get Volusia moving again!
Contact me to discuss or get involved:
Phone/Text: 321-299-4797
Email: DavidSosa4VolusiaCounty@gmail.com
With action and determination,

J. David Sosa
Candidate for Volusia County Council District 5

Fiscal Responsibility & Lower Taxes:

Protecting Your Hard-Earned Dollars

As your candidate for Volusia County Council District 5, I’m Julio “David” Sosa—

I’ve been a consistent voice for fiscal responsibility, no new taxes, and cutting wasteful spending to ensure government works efficiently for residents in Deltona, DeBary, and all of West Volusia—not for unnecessary bureaucracy or special interests.

Why This Matters to Our Communities

Property taxes hit hard in District Five, where families have worked their whole lives to own homes only to face rising bills from unchecked spending and growth pressures. In Deltona, recent city budgets have included proposed increases (like a ~9% hike in prior years and debates over millage rates around 6.7 mills for FY 2025-26), often tied to employee raises, utility adjustments, and development impacts without enough offsets.

Residents have voiced frustration over “over taxation,” wasteful items in budgets, and the risk of seniors or fixed-income families losing homes to escalating taxes.

At the county level, Volusia’s $1.41 billion FY 2025-26 budget maintains a flat general fund millage (3.2007 mills) but faces challenges like declining revenues (sales tax drops, state sharing shortfalls) and mandatory cost increases—leading to reliance on reserves and tough choices.

While some funds went to rollback rates (reducing taxes slightly in areas like fire rescue), overall pressures from growth, infrastructure needs, and state mandates risk higher burdens without disciplined oversight.

I’ve fought this before: As a commissioner, I opposed budgets with “atrocious” wasteful spending and tax hikes, advocating instead for transparency, accountability, and prioritizing essentials like public safety and flood fixes over extras.

On social media and in public meetings, I’ve consistently called out unnecessary increases, pushed for better use of state/federal grants to avoid local tax hikes, and emphasized that hardworking residents shouldn’t lose their homes to property taxes.

My Commitment on the County Council

If elected, I will make reducing the budget, cutting taxes, and eliminating wasteful spending a core priority:

Fight for Tax Relief — Advocate for lower millage rates where possible, push back against automatic increases from rising property values without corresponding cuts, and support homestead protections so no one loses their home to taxes.
Cut Wasteful Spending — Demand line-by-line scrutiny of budgets to eliminate non-essential items, reduce bureaucracy, and redirect savings to critical needs like roads, flooding mitigation, and first responders—without new taxes or fees.
Promote Fiscal Discipline — Work to balance the budget through efficiencies, aggressive grant applications (federal/state funds for infrastructure), and responsible growth policies that don’t burden existing residents with higher costs.
Restore Transparency & Accountability — Ensure every dollar is justified, hold public hearings that truly listen to residents, and fight state overreach that limits local tools while protecting home rule for smarter local decisions.

This isn’t just policy—it’s personal. My family, like yours, feels the pinch of rising costs. I’ve stood against tax hikes in Deltona because I know what it means to families here in Deltona and DeBary: more money in your pocket for groceries, education, or savings instead of government excess.

If high taxes, wasteful spending, or budget frustrations have hit your household—share your story with me. Your experiences will guide my work to deliver real relief and a leaner, more efficient county government.

Together, we can lower taxes, cut waste, and build a fiscally responsible Volusia County that puts residents first.

Contact me to join the fight:
Phone/Text: 321-299-4797
Email: DavidSosa4VolusiaCounty@gmail.com

With integrity and determination,
J. David Sosa
Candidate for Volusia County Council District 5

Conservation & Sustainable Growth: Protecting Our Natural Heritage

As your candidate for Volusia County Council District 5, I’m Julio “David” Sosa, and conservation is one of my deepest passions.

Having served as a former board member of the Volusia Forever program, I understand firsthand how vital it is to protect our environmentally sensitive lands, water resources, open spaces, and wildlife habitats in Deltona, DeBary, and across the state.

This isn’t just policy—it’s about preserving the natural beauty and quality of life that make our communities special for our families and future generations.

My Background in Conservation

During my time on the Volusia Forever Advisory Board, I helped evaluate and advance land acquisitions and easements from willing sellers to safeguard high-priority areas. This included supporting projects within the Florida Wildlife Corridor, the Volusia Conservation Corridor (which connects Tiger Bay State Forest through central wetlands and flatwoods to the St. Johns River marshes), and key preserves like Deep Creek, Palm Bluff, Heart Island, and Wildgrass Prairie.

These efforts protect water recharge areas, prevent runoff into our rivers and lakes, reduce flooding risks, preserve habitats for native species, and provide public access for recreation like hiking, paddling, and eco-tours through the Explore Volusia program.

Volusia Forever—renewed by voters in 2020 with strong support—has protected nearly 60,000 acres since its start in 2000 through partnerships with state agencies like the St. Johns River Water Management District and Florida Forever. It’s funded by a modest 0.2-mill ad valorem tax (about $25/year for the average homeowner), stretching dollars through grants and collaborations to acquire and manage lands in perpetuity.

I’ve advocated publicly for full funding of related state programs like Florida Forever (e.g., calling for $100 million in state budgets, as 81% of Floridians support per polls), emphasizing that conservation must be prioritized over unchecked development.

The Challenges in Deltona and DeBary

Our area faces rapid growth pressures that threaten natural resources: over development increases runoff, strains water quality in the St. Johns River and local lakes, fragments wildlife corridors, and heightens flooding in low-lying zones. Without strong conservation, we risk losing open spaces that recharge aquifers, buffer storms, and offer residents green escapes.

Programs like Volusia Forever help counter this by preserving lands that support sustainable growth—ensuring new development happens responsibly, with impact fees funding infrastructure and protections in place.

What I’ll Fight For on the County Council

Conservation and sustainable growth go hand-in-hand: protect what we have while planning smartly for the future. If elected, I will:

Defend and Strengthen Volusia Forever — Oppose any attempts to weaken, divert, or “take the wheels off” this popular program (as recent council discussions have raised concerns). Push to maintain its focus on perpetuity, partnerships, and acquiring high-scoring properties in the Wildlife Corridor.
Promote Sustainable Development — Require developers to incorporate green practices, stormwater retention, and buffers to protect conservation lands. Tie approvals to environmental impact assessments and ensure growth doesn’t overwhelm our natural systems.
Secure Funding & Partnerships — Advocate for state and federal grants to expand protections, support Florida Forever funding, and collaborate with groups like 1000 Friends of Florida and the Indian Riverkeeper to complete corridors and preserve water quality.
Balance Growth with Preservation — Fight for policies that allow responsible, controlled development while prioritizing land that absorbs floodwater, protects habitats, and enhances recreation—creating a greener, more resilient District 5.

This issue is personal: As a martial arts instructor and family man, I’ve seen how our natural areas inspire youth, build community, and provide peace amid growth. I’ve fought for these protections because our environment is irreplaceable—once lost, it’s gone forever.

If conservation matters to you—whether it’s preserving local trails, protecting our waterways, or ensuring sustainable growth—share your thoughts or experiences with me.

Your stories strengthen this fight.
Let’s keep Volusia beautiful, protect our lands, and grow responsibly for generations to come.

Contact me to get involved:
Phone/Text: 321-299-4797
Email: DavidSosa4VolusiaCounty@gmail.com

With passion for preservation,
J. David Sosa
Candidate for Volusia County Council District 5