Mayor Glenn Ritchey
Since taking the oath of office on December 20, 2006, successful businessman and respected community leader Glenn S. Ritchey, 65, has fully embraced the opportunity of serving as Daytona Beach’s mayor. He loves this city, a city he has lived in since 1960, and he wants to ensure that it continues on a successful path. He successfully ran for election in October 2007, becoming the city’s first four-year term mayor. His term will expire in 2011.
When he first accepted the role as mayor after the unfortunate passing of then-mayor Yvonne Scarlett-Golden, he dedicated his term to making government more accountable, accessible and responsive to citizens. He made a commitment to improve communication between city government and the community.
His leadership was tested just five days after his swearing-in ceremony, when an F2 tornado ripped through the city on Christmas Day. The central section of the city received significant damage. He quickly arrived at the city’s Emergency Operations Center, toured damage and worked side-by-side with city staff as they quickly responded to victims and assessed damage in neighborhoods. As mayor, he worked with the Red Cross and state legislators to identify available resources for affected residents and business owners.
One of his first initiatives was to create a "kitchen cabinet," a 12-member advisory group of residents with a wide range of opinions to assist in identifying issues and focus on positive solutions. The group meets monthly and takes an in-depth look of complex issues such as Community Redevelopment Areas (CRAs), property tax reform and public safety. The kitchen cabinet also provides a forum to discuss Daytona Beach’s multiple opportunities.
His focus on improved communications led to the creation of e-currents, the city’s electronic newsletter that is emailed weekly to constituents throughout Volusia County and Florida. Each Friday, citizens can get timely and relevant information regarding the city of Daytona Beach. This initiative has been so successful that other governmental entities have implemented similar e-newsletters. He has also pushed for more information and pertinent documents to be made available on the city’s website. In January 2007, only a month after taking office, Channel 99, Daytona Beach’s governmental access channel, debuted. In an attempt to involve more citizens, Mayor Ritchey was instrumental in accelerating the live broadcast of commission meetings and a community information calendar.
The legacy of his leadership was been exemplified during the recent budget process. He provided the impetus for staff to release a budget proposal earlier than ever and have more public workshops than in year’s past. It was an ambitious order in a typical year, much less this year with the uncertainty in the outcome of property tax reform legislation. Volusia County Property Appraiser Morgan Gilreath lauded Mayor Ritchey for his proactive measures to cut property taxes. In a "letter to the editor" published by the News-Journal, Morgan wrote, “Speak softly and carry a big stick! We haven’t heard threats of cuts in critical city services from Daytona Beach; nor have we heard of the city handing out fliers telling its citizens to lobby legislators against popular property tax reform. It appears that Mayor Glenn Ritchey, the commissioners and the city staff have been quietly preparing to demonstrate how tax reductions should be managed. Not only does the proposed Daytona Beach budget lower property taxes more than required by the Legislature, it also reduces the city budget more than 8 percent. That’s a much bigger tax reduction for citizens. The city leaders should be commended for their example, planned and delivered without fanfare. One could say that a government’s budget represents how they govern. ‘Mayor Ritchey & Company’ should be an example all over Florida.”
Before serving as mayor, he was extremely active in the community. In addition to being president and CEO of one of the nation’s most successful automobile empires, he actively served on the city’s visioning steering committee, Economic Development Board and Board of Adjustments (past chairman). He currently serves as chairman of the News-Journal Performing Center and he is past chairman of the Civic League of Halifax Area, Halifax Hospital Medical Center, the city of Daytona Beach’s Charter Review Committee, the Florida International Festival, National GM Dealer Council, General Motors Southeast Regional Council and Chevrolet Dealer Council. He is a current board member of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Gateway Bank of Florida, Futures Inc., Boys & Girls Club of Volusia and Flagler Counties, Halifax Medical Center, Bethune Cookman University, GMAC’s Dealer Advisory Board, Crime Stoppers, The Civic League of Halifax Area, Halifax Area Chamber of Commerce, Volusia Red Cross, Easter Seals of Volusia County, United Way, Rotary and the Florida Automobile Dealers’ Association. He has received "Person of the Year" awards from the following organizations: Center for the Visually Impaired (2002), Lou Fuchs Community Service Award (2002), Rotary (2001), nominated Time Magazine Quality Automobile Dealer Award (1993), GM Dealer of the Year Award (2002, 2003, 2004), Enterprise Award from the Halifax Area Chamber of Commerce, The Genuine Leader Award from Chevrolet Motor Division (received every year since its inception in 1999).