Don Dempsey
County Council Member, District 1 on the Volusia County Council
Source: Official roster, volusia.org
- [email protected]
- 386-736-5920
- Official page
In the records we collect, Don cast 1,745 recorded votes, voted with the final outcome 98% of the time, attended 48 of 50 recorded meetings, and made 27 motions.
"Final outcome" compares each Yea or Nay with whether the measure passed, across 1,675 votes. Counts cover the records listed at the end of this page.
On the ballot
Running for Volusia County Council, District 1 in the General Election, Nov 3, 2026.
Filing status: Advanced. $30,000 raised in monetary contributions
Compare candidatesWhere Don stands
On 91 recorded votes where members disagreed, Don was on the prevailing side 60 times and in the minority 31 times. The minority votes were most often on government operations - ordinances & procedure and fiscal policy - budget allocation.
- Government Operations - Ordinances & ProcedureYes 10, No 9
- Voted yes on Proposed draft ordinance and proposed amendment to Volusia County Charter regarding blackwater. Failed 3 to 4, Feb 17, 2026. Record
- Voted no on Discussion request to modify Code of Ordinance Chapter 72 regulations regarding digital billboards. Carried 6 to 1, Feb 3, 2026. Record
- Voted no on Discussion of placement of charter amendment question regarding elements of a rural growth boundary. Carried 4 to 3, Nov 4, 2025. Record
- Fiscal Policy - Budget AllocationYes 9, No 8
- Voted no on Written request to the Administration Commission regarding the Property Appraisers Budget pursuant to 195.087(1)(b), F.S. Carried 6 to 1, Sep 16, 2025. Record
- Voted no on Second and final hearing to adopt proposed millage rates and proposed budget for fiscal year 2025-26. Operating Budget: $1,419,238,478 Non-operating Budget:... ($1.4B). Carried 6 to 1, Sep 16, 2025. Record
- Voted no on Fiscal Year 2025-26 TRIM Rates and Budget Overview ($1.4B). Carried 4 to 2, Jul 22, 2025. Record
- Government Operations - AppointmentsYes 7, No 6
- Voted no on Discussion on term limits for County advisory boards. Carried 5 to 2, May 5, 2026. Record
- Voted yes on SunRail Customer Advisory Committee appointment. [Must ride SunRail at least three days per week]. Failed 6 to 1, Oct 21, 2025. Record
- Voted no on Council Appointments to the Environment and Natural Resources Advisory Committee (ENRAC). Carried 4 to 2, Sep 3, 2024. Record
- Zoning Amendment - Land UseYes 8, No 4
- Voted no on Ordinance 2024-03. Small-scale Comprehensive Plan amendment at 2433 West New York Avenue, DeLand from the Rural Future Land Use designation to the.... Carried 5 to 2, May 7, 2024. Record
- Voted no on Resolution 2024-xx. Rezoning from the Rural Residential (RR) zoning classification on West Blue Springs Avenue to the Urban Single-Family Residential (R-4).... Carried 5 to 2, Apr 2, 2024. Record
- Voted no on Adoption Hearing. Ordinance No. 2023-23. Ordinance amending the Comprehensive Plan Affordable Housing Policies (Chapter 1, Chapter 5, and Chapter 20).... Carried 5 to 1, Mar 5, 2024. Record
- Environmental Land AcquisitionYes 3, No 4
- Voted no on from the June 2nd 2026 meeting - proposed vacation of a portion of Bethune-Volusia Beach, Unit 3 of 7 Units, Map Book 11, Page 157. Carried 5 to 2, Jul 21, 2026. Record
- Voted no on will be discussed on the April 7, 2026 meeting to discuss the bonding resolution for the Volusia Forever program. Carried 5 to 1, Mar 17, 2026. Record
- Voted no on Requesting approval of a joint participation agreement with SJRWMD for a joint purchase with Volusia Forever, and approval of the agreement for purchase of... ($2.1M). Carried 6 to 1, Dec 2, 2025. Record
- Housing & DevelopmentYes 3, No 4
- Voted no on donation of properties identified for affordable housing to nonprofit organizations. Carried 5 to 1, Jun 17, 2025. Record
- Voted no on award of federal grant funds to Bright Community Trust for development of affordable homeowner housing on infill lots. Carried 5 to 1, Jun 17, 2025. Record
- Voted no on award for Affordable Housing Development Gap Funding, 24-P-54MC, to establish 302 new affordable rental units ($7.8M). Carried 5 to 2, May 7, 2024. Record
- Not in a single policy areaYes 13, No 3
- Voted no on Resolution 2026-xx, establishing a repeat domestic abuser database and providing for inclusion of certain records within that database for those who meet.... Carried 6 to 1, Jul 21, 2026. Record
- Voted yes on (Cont.) ECHO Strategic Plan. Failed 3 to 4, Feb 3, 2026. Record
- Voted no on Discussion and direction on towing fees. Carried 5 to 1, Jun 4, 2024. Record
Filled bar: yes votes. Outlined bar: no votes. Listed votes are ones where Don was in the minority.
What they bring forward
Topics of the motions they made, grouped into descriptive policy areas by the wording of each official title.
- Government Operations - Appointments9 motions
- Environmental Land Acquisition3 motions
- Public Safety & Emergency Services1 motion
- Economic Development1 motion
- Public Health & Human Services1 motion
- Government Operations - Contracts & Procurement1 motion
- Housing & Development1 motion
- Not in a single policy area8 motions
When the vote split
Unanimous votes say little about how members differ. These are the recorded votes where members disagreed, most recent first.
- Yea
- Nay
- Absent or not voting
- Abstain or present
- Oct 6, 2026Volusia County Council
Item 06: 2026 ECHO Grant Cycle Award Recommendations. Total potential grant awards: $13,144,290
APPROVED as presented by staff with the exception of the Daytona proposal.
Carried 6 to 1. Government Operations - Contracts & Procurement. Official record
- Oct 6, 2026Volusia County Council
Item 06: 2026 ECHO Grant Cycle Award Recommendations. Total potential grant awards: $13,144,290
APPROVED Harvey Avenue Boardwalk Extension and Beach Access Improvement project submitted by the City of Daytona Beach.
Carried 4 to 3. Government Operations - Contracts & Procurement. Official record
- Sep 3, 2026Volusia County Council
Item 13: Budget Resolution - First public hearing on tentative budget and millage rates for fiscal year 2026-27. Gross Budget: $1,800,271,784 Net of Interfund Transfers, Internal Service Funds and Reserves (Net Budget): $1,064,798,131
Motion 2 of 18 on this item
7 motions on this item, all with the same vote
Carried 6 to 1. Fiscal Policy - Budget Allocation. Official record
- Aug 4, 2026Volusia County Council
Item 10: Resolution - Fee Schedule Annual CPI Adjustment Policy.
APPROVED and ADOPTED Resolution 2026-123
Carried 4 to 2. Official record
- Jul 21, 2026Volusia County Council
Item 10: Fiscal Year 2026-27 TRIM Rates and Budget Overview. Total Recommended Budget, Net of Interfund Transfers, Reserves and Internal Service Funds: $1,064,898,344
APPROVED recommended 2026-2027 TRIM Rates.
Carried 6 to 1. Fiscal Policy - Budget Allocation. Official record
- Jul 21, 2026Volusia County Council
Item 11: Resolution 2026-xx, establishing a repeat domestic abuser database and providing for inclusion of certain records within that database for those who meet the criteria of a convicted repeat domestic abuser per court records
APPROVED and ADOPTED amended Resolution 2026-115 to require one conviction, include the database to go up to 10 years back and to include the Domestic Abuse Council’s information on the webpage.
Carried 6 to 1. Official record
- Jul 21, 2026Volusia County Council
Item 12: Ordinance 2026-12 implementing term limits for boards, committees, or other appointed bodies.
DENIED Ordinance 2026-12
Carried 5 to 2. Government Operations - Appointments. Official record
- Jul 21, 2026Volusia County Council
Item 05: from the June 2nd 2026 meeting - proposed vacation of a portion of Bethune-Volusia Beach, Unit 3 of 7 Units, Map Book 11, Page 157.
APPROVED for the vacate application for Greg Belitz be rescheduled with the $660 reapplication fee waived and for the petitioner to pay for the re- advertisement. Request to have staff add a six month moratorium on the discussion for Data Centers.
Carried 5 to 2. Environmental Land Acquisition. Official record
- Jun 16, 2026Volusia County Council
Item 06: Indefinitely.
Carried 4 to 2. Official record
- Jun 2, 2026Volusia County Council
Item 06: Resolution 2026-XX. Rezoning of +/- 2.59 acres from the Urban Multi-Family Residential (R-8) zoning classification to a Planned Unit Development (PUD), located at 5499 South Atlantic Avenue, New Smyrna Beach. (PUD-26-026) (County Council District 3). Owner: Southwind Homeowners Association Applicant: Debbie Valle, Southwind Homeowners Association
APPROVED and ADPOPTED Resolution 2026-66
Carried 5 to 2. Zoning Amendment - Land Use. Official record
- Jun 2, 2026Volusia County Council
Item 09: Ordinance 2026-09. Small-scale Comprehensive Plan amendment from the Urban Low Intensity (ULI) Future Land Use (FLU) designation to the Mixed-Use Zone (MXZ) FLU designation for a 6.10-acre property. (Case CPA-24-007) (County Council District 5). Owner: G.A. Newbern and Palmer B, LLC. Applicant: Mark Watts, Esq., Cobb Cole Attorneys at Law
APPROVED and ADOPTED Ordinance No. 2026-09
Carried 4 to 3. Zoning Amendment - Land Use. Official record
- Jun 2, 2026Volusia County Council
Item 10: Resolution 2026-XX. Rezoning of 6.10 acres from the Urban Single-Family Residential (R-4) zoning classification to a Planned Unit Development, with a Mixed- Use subclassification (PUD), Enterprise. (PUD-24-012) (County Council District 5). Owner: G.A. Newbern and Palmer B, LLC. Applicant: Mark Watts, Esq., Cobb Cole Attorneys at Law
APPROVED and ADPOPTED Resolution 2026-68
Carried 4 to 3. Zoning Amendment - Land Use. Official record
Where the campaign money comes from
Totals from official campaign finance reports. Occupations and locations are as reported by each contributor.
2026 campaign$30,000 in contributions
Who gave
- Candidate loans to own campaign100%
How the campaign spent
- Advertising & media72%
- Consulting & staff18%
- Fees & filing9%
- Other / Not described0%
Source: Volusia SOE campaign reports
2026 campaign$30,000 in contributions
Who gave
- Candidate loans to own campaign100%
How the campaign spent
- Advertising & media72%
- Consulting & staff18%
- Fees & filing9%
- Other / Not described0%
Source: Volusia County Supervisor of Elections campaign reports
In the news
Headlines that name Don, with the publisher. We link to coverage; we don't summarize or rate it.
- Daytona Beach News-Journal, Mar 18, 2026Volusia Council nixes Volusia Forever item, but Dempsey pushes back
- Daytona Beach News-Journal, Nov 8, 2022Volusia County Council: Jake Johansson takes at-large seat; Don Dempsey wins in an upset
- Daytona Beach News-Journal, Nov 3, 2020State Attorney R.J. Larizza wins fourth term as he defeats Don Dempsey
Records used on this page
Each vote and bill above links to its own official record.