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Published: Tuesday, December 2, 2014 at 12:40 p.m. Last Modified: Tuesday, December 2, 2014 at 8:58 p.m.

Five candidates including a Daytona Beach Democrat have qualified for the state Senate District 6 special election, which combined with two other elections will cost taxpayers more than $1 million.

The quintet of candidates are vying for the post vacated by former Sen. John Thrasher, who was appointed as president of Florida State University shortly after being reelected in November. The special primary for the seat, which includes all of Flagler, St. Johns and Putnam counties as well as northeast Volusia County, is Jan. 27 and the special general election will be April 7, meaning Flagler will be without a state senator for most of the 2015 Legislative session.

Republican candidates for Senate District 6 include state Rep. Travis Hutson, R-Elkton and Rep. Ronald Doc Renuart, R-Ponte Vedra Beach. Other Republican candidates include Dennis McDonald, a Flagler Beach resident who ran an unsuccessful campaign for Flagler County Commission, and Beth Sweeny of St. Augustine.

Running as the Democratic candidate is David Cox, an educator at Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach who campaigned to unseat U.S. District 6 Rep. Ron DeSantis.

Both Hutson and Renuart will resign from their House seats a day before the April 7 general election, forcing officials to hold two other special elections. The elections to fill their seats as well as the vacant senate seat are expected to cost more than $1 million.

A special election would have been unnecessary if Thrasher had resigned before the November elections. If he had done that, though, Republican leaders from the counties within his district would have nominated a stand-in. Thrasher said he preferred to let voters choose his replacement.

That decision also allowed House members Hutson and Renuart to compete for the seat. Already deemed candidates for their own reelection bids, they could not have taken Thrashers spot in the general election.

Cox blasted Republicans for playing games with constituents money and leaving Flagler without a voice in the senate.

Ultimately, its costing taxpayers when that money could have gone into education or the environment, he said.

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Candidates line up for Thrasher's seat

Democrat Mayor Encourages Voter Fraud at Landrieu Event
Democrat Party Boss and Opelousas Mayor Don Cravins, Sr. urges Democrats to commit voter fraud at Senator Mary Landrieu event.

By: Black Conservatives Fund

Original post:
Democrat Mayor Encourages Voter Fraud at Landrieu Event - Video

Democrat David Ige has been sworn in as Hawaii's governor, taking the oath of office at a lively ceremony in the state Capitol's rotunda.

WATCH: Chief Justice Recktenwald swearing in David Ige

Ige takes the helm after defeating James "Duke" Aiona in the general election and upsetting incumbent Gov. Neil Abercrombie in the primary.

Monday's ceremony paid tribute to Ige's roots as the grandson of Japanese immigrants and a melting pot of Hawaiian traditions. It featured hula dancers, conch calls and ukulele serenades.

The 57-year-old former state senator began his acceptance speech in his trademark humble style, saying to the crowd, "My name is David Ige." He described the event as the introduction of a "new governor, a new administration, a new beginning."

Ige is the eighth person to hold the office since Hawaii became a state in 1959.

Shan Tsutsui also was sworn Monday in as lieutenant governor.

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Democrat David Ige sworn in as Hawaii governor

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Democratic incumbent Addie Russell has secured a razor thin victory over Republican John Byrne in the race for the 116th Assembly District. After trailing her opponent by more than 100 votes on Election Day, Elizabeth Jeneault explains how Russell was able to squeeze out the win.

"I knew it was going to be a close race when we came down to the absentees and they weren't turning exactly as how we thought they were going to turn," said Byrne.

The opening of those ballots reversed the tide to give Russell about a 100 vote lead. Byrne's last hope was that the opening of about 300 challenged ballots from both counties Monday would change things yet again. When it became clear that wouldn't happen, he said he was just thankful that the majority of those ballots were opened.

"We knew we had to go through the process, we felt we did it in an honorable fashion and we're just very happy that everyone agreed to have those ballots opened," said Byrne.

Critics have argued that the race wouldn't have been as close had Russell campaigned more. She said she believed other factors were to blame.

"Low voter turnout usually tends to help Republicans and I think that was a trend we saw nationally and really has as much to do with how this race turned out than any other single factor," said Russell.

With the race now behind her, Russell said she's focused on her next term.

"Our schools and our small governments have been under tremendous strain so as we work through the next budget cycle, continuing to advocate for our local governments and for our school districts will remain a top priority of mine," said Russell.

A term she can look forward to, after unofficially winning the overall race by about a mere 100 votes.

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Democrat Addie Russell Wins 116th Assembly District Race

Buncombe County Commissioner Ellen Frost is sworn in for a second term Monday evening Dec. 1, 2014. Frost took the oath of office using the Bible of the South's first elected female legislature and Black Mountain native Lillian Exum Clement Stafford. The Borgan's are the caregivers of Stafford's 90-year-old son-in-law and former Asheville resident Win Anders. The Bible is over 100 years old with several passages underlined by the former legislator. The Bible also has a inscription written by E.S. Vanderbilt, written March 12, 1900.(Photo: William Woody / wwoody@citizen-times.com)

The top Buncombe County elected official crossed party lines Monday to elect Republican Joe Belcher as vice chairman of the Board of Commissioners.

Belcher, a Candler resident representing the south and west of the county in District 3, won on a 4-3 vote over Democrat Brownie Newman. The vote was along party lines except for what proved to be the swing vote from Chairman David Gantt, a Democrat and the only commissioner elected countywide.

Gantt made no comment about the vote. There was little other discussion about the election of vice chair, except by the commissioners who nominated Belcher and Newman.

Democratic Commissioner Holly Jones nominated Newman, calling him "a tireless proponent of education, environmental stewardship and equality." Newman represents District 1 which takes in most of Asheville.

Republican Commissioner Mike Fryar nominated Belcher. Fryar said Belcher has covered a lot of ground in the two years he's been on the board.

"He's learned a lot and he's been to 99 percent of the events that we often don't make. I have the greatest respect for him and think he would do a fantastic job in that position," Fryar said.

CITIZEN-TIMES

Buncombe County commissioners to elect vice chair

After the vote, Belcher said Newman was a good commissioner and that he was thankful for his service. Belcher said he tried to be present at schools, charity events "for those less fortunate" and to provide leadership where he could.

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Democrat majority board of commissioners pick GOP vice chair