2004 Volusia County Chair election

2004 Volusia County Chair election

August 31, 2004 2008 →

Candidate Frank Bruno Roy Schleicher Larry J. Stephens Popular vote 28,382 15,554 7,516 Percentage 55.16% 30.23% 14.61%

County Chair before election Position established Elected County Chair Frank Bruno Nonpartisan

The 2004 Volusia County Chair election took place on August 31, 2004. The 2004 election was the first election for the position after voters approved an amendment to the home rule charter in 2002 that established the position of County Chair. ^[1]

County Councilmember Frank Bruno and Roy Schleicher, a former County Councilmember, entered the race as frontrunners, and were joined at the filing deadline by consultant Larry Stephens. Despite suspicion that Stephens entered the race as a spoiler candidate to hurt Bruno, ^[2] Bruno ended up winning the race outright at the primary election, winning 55 percent of the vote to Schleicher's 30 percent and Stephens's 15 percent, avoiding the need for a runoff election. ^[3]

Primary election

Candidates

• Frank Bruno, County Councilmember ^[4]
• Roy Schleicher, businessman, former Executive Director of the Volusia Council of Governments, former County Councilmember ^[5]
• Larry Stephens, economic development consultant ^[2]

Declined

• Joe Benedict, businessman, former County Councilmember ^[6]

Results

2004 Volusia County Chair election results ^[7]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Nonpartisan	Frank Bruno	28,382	55.16%
	Nonpartisan	Roy Schleicher	15,554	30.23%
	Nonpartisan	Larry Stephens	7,516	14.61%
Total votes			51,452	100.00%

References

1. Connolly, Kevin P. (November 6, 2002). "Voters show desire for a council leader". Orlando Sentinel . Orlando, Florida. p. B5. Retrieved July 17, 2025.
2. Lafferty, Mike (July 21, 2004). "Late addition wakes up contest". Orlando Sentinel . Orlando, Florida. p. J1. Retrieved July 17, 2025.
3. Connolly, Kevin P. (September 1, 2004). "Bruno becomes 1st elected chair". Orlando Sentinel . Orlando, Florida. p. B5. Retrieved July 17, 2025.
4. "2nd chairman candidate tosses hat in ring". Orlando Sentinel . Orlando, Florida. January 7, 2004. p. J1. Retrieved July 17, 2025.
5. "Job attracts 1st candidate". Orlando Sentinel . Orlando, Florida. December 31, 2003. p. J1. Retrieved July 17, 2025.
6. "No run for chairman job". Orlando Sentinel . Orlando, Florida. June 11, 2004. p. G7. Retrieved July 17, 2025.
7. "Election Summary Report - 08-31-04 Primary" (PDF). Volusia County Supervisor of Elections. April 22, 2005. Retrieved July 7, 2025.