• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
MENUMENU
MENUMENU
  • Home
  • About
    • Contact Us
    • FlaglerLive Board of Directors
    • Comment Policy
    • Mission Statement
    • Our Values
    • Privacy Policy
  • Live Calendar
  • Submit Obituary
  • Submit an Event
  • Support FlaglerLive
  • Advertise on FlaglerLive (386) 503-3808
  • Search Results

FlaglerLive

No Bull, no Fluff, No Smudges

MENUMENU
  • Flagler
    • Flagler County Commission
    • Beverly Beach
    • Economic Development Council
    • Flagler History
    • Mondex/Daytona North
    • The Hammock
    • Tourist Development Council
  • Palm Coast
    • Palm Coast City Council
    • Palm Coast Crime
  • Bunnell
    • Bunnell City Commission
    • Bunnell Crime
  • Flagler Beach
    • Flagler Beach City Commission
    • Flagler Beach Crime
  • Cops/Courts
    • Circuit & County Court
    • Florida Supreme Court
    • Federal Courts
    • Flagler 911
    • Fire House
    • Flagler County Sheriff
    • Flagler Jail Bookings
    • Traffic Accidents
  • Rights & Liberties
    • Fourth Amendment
    • First Amendment
    • Privacy
    • Second Amendment
    • Seventh Amendment
    • Sixth Amendment
    • Sunshine Law
    • Third Amendment
    • Religion & Beliefs
    • Human Rights
    • Immigration
    • Labor Rights
    • 14th Amendment
    • Civil Rights
  • Schools
    • Adult Education
    • Belle Terre Elementary
    • Buddy Taylor Middle
    • Bunnell Elementary
    • Charter Schools
    • Daytona State College
    • Flagler County School Board
    • Flagler Palm Coast High School
    • Higher Education
    • Imagine School
    • Indian Trails Middle
    • Matanzas High School
    • Old Kings Elementary
    • Rymfire Elementary
    • Stetson University
    • Wadsworth Elementary
    • University of Florida/Florida State
  • Economy
    • Jobs & Unemployment
    • Business & Economy
    • Development & Sprawl
    • Leisure & Tourism
    • Local Business
    • Local Media
    • Real Estate & Development
    • Taxes
  • Commentary
    • The Conversation
    • Pierre Tristam
    • Diane Roberts
    • Guest Columns
    • Byblos
    • Editor's Blog
  • Culture
    • African American Cultural Society
    • Arts in Palm Coast & Flagler
    • Books
    • City Repertory Theatre
    • Flagler Auditorium
    • Flagler Playhouse
    • Flagler Youth Orchestra
    • Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra
    • Palm Coast Arts Foundation
    • Special Events
  • Elections 2024
    • Amendments and Referendums
    • Presidential Election
    • Campaign Finance
    • City Elections
    • Congressional
    • Constitutionals
    • Courts
    • Governor
    • Polls
    • Voting Rights
  • Florida
    • Federal Politics
    • Florida History
    • Florida Legislature
    • Florida Legislature
    • Ron DeSantis
  • Health & Society
    • Flagler County Health Department
    • Ask the Doctor Column
    • Health Care
    • Health Care Business
    • Covid-19
    • Children and Families
    • Medicaid and Medicare
    • Mental Health
    • Poverty
    • Violence
  • All Else
    • Daily Briefing
    • Americana
    • Obituaries
    • News Briefs
    • Weather and Climate
    • Wildlife

Sen. Travis Hutson Draws a Democratic Opponent in Palm Coast’s Curtis Ceballos

April 27, 2016 | FlaglerLive | 7 Comments

curtis ceballos district 7 senate race travis hutson
Curtis Ceballos has been a Palm Coast resident for almost 20 years. (© FlaglerLive)

At the Palm Coast City Council on Tuesday the city’s lobbyist in Tallahassee, Doug Bell, gave a brief summary analysis of the likely outcome of November’s election: “With this being a presidential election year,” Bell said, “and after we just had redistricting, which evened out a lot of the districts based upon the constitutional amendment, fair districts, I think you will see that the Democrats will make gains in the State Senate. I don’t believe that they will get a majority in the State Senate, but it will be a closer—it will be more even between the Democrats and the Republicans in the State Senate.” But, Bell added it’s still “a long way to go” for Democrats.


Curtis Ceballos, a Flagler County Democrat who just announced his decision to run against Sen. Travis Hutson, hopes to be part of that larger Democratic minority: he launches his bid at Break-Aways, the Flagler Beach restaurant, this evening.

Ceballos has some factors in his favor. The redrawn District 7 added a few more Democrats from tilting further south into Volusia County, and it shed the hard-right voters of Putnam, but it still includes all of very conservative St. Johns, Hutson’s home. Ceballos can draw on Volusia’s and St. Johns’ growing Hispanic voters. In a presidential year projected to draw out Democrats—and, if Donald Trump is the nominee, fewer Republicans—at least a few stars are aligned in Ceballos’s favor.

That said, it’ll still be a challenge to overcome the constellation of advantages in Hutson’s favor, not least of them Hutson’s incumbency, his recent significant successes shoveling pork his district’s way, and his money: even without an opponent, Hutson’s account, opened soon after he won the special election to the Senate seat, drew $55,475, almost $20,000 of which is spent. Ceballos just opened an account. The balance: zero.

Hutson has rich parents and adoring corporations waiting to throw money at him. Ceballos hasn’t drawn a paycheck since starting his company, and has yet to build up some name recognition: as of now, he’d collected 200 of the 1,500 petitions needed to get on the ballot, though the Democratic committees of St. Johns, Flagler and Volusia have pledged their support and are drawing up corporate backing of their own, Ceballos said today, while he himself will be relying on donations in the $5 to $20 range.

It’s the Bernie Sanders model. But don’t compare him to Sanders. He called himself a “conservative Democrat” in an email the day of his announcement—clearly, an attempt to position himself more to the taste of a decidedly right-leaning district. Asked about that today, he qualified the statement.


A “pragmatic Democrat” runs against an incumbent with a short but busy history and stashed coffers.


“I do see along the Democratic line, but I also do see more along the conservative side,” Ceballos said. “I grew up in Connecticut and that kind of brushed off on me, maybe not so much as a conservative Democrat but as a pragmatic Democrat. I know how to stretch a penny, I know how to make it work. I have a startup company for Christ’s sake, I haven’t received a paycheck in almost two years and living off of my wife’s school employee check is very difficult. [His wife Gillian is the first face most people see at Indian Trails Middle School.]  At the same time we’ve amassed what we’ve got with our company because we’re very grateful to the people who got us there.”

Ceballos, 54, has been a Palm Coast resident for 18 years. He launched the start-up less than three years ago with two companies—TALKiT, a phone app that gives users the voice equivalent of a text message, and DIGITZ, a coming form of payment that allows a customer to use a fingerprint instead of a cash card. His political experience is limited: he served on the city’s leisure services committee for six years, lost a primary race for the county commission—against the late Bob Abbott—in 2006 by 500 votes and lost a run for Palm Coast council in 2002 by a larger margin, though Hutson had no experience when he first ran for a House seat in 2012, either.

Ceballos is realistic. He acknowledges that he’s a long shot: this is a one-party state once you get past the more liberal tropics of South Florida, and redistricting—the work of the GOP-dominated Legislature– can only work in Democrats’ favor on the margins. “I’m probably going to be more of a thorn in their side than anything else,” Ceballos said, referring to Huston and his backers.

Hutson, interviewed by phone in early evening, said this will be his fourth election in four years. “I’ve always said I welcome any challenge,” he said, as it keeps him sharp and in tune with voters, but from what he knows of Ceballos, he said: “We may be aligned on actually a lot of issues, I don’t know if there’s going to be too much polarizing differences between us.” He added: “I don’t know if D or R matters in terms of the work I’ve been able to put it. Hopefully that’ll carry me to the finish line.”

travis hutson
Sen. Travis Hutson in an appearance in Palm Coast earlier this month. (© FlaglerLive)
But Ceballos quickly adds that he has every intention to run to win—not against Hutson, whose record he has not yet fully analyzed, but for a platform that for now has two priorities: more state attention to start-ups, and more attention to vocational education.

The state-start-up connection would be enabled with more money from Enterprise Florida—the state’s private-public partnership with business–to start-ups. But isn’t that the job of venture capitalists rather than the state? Yes, Ceballos says, but “we don’t have enough venture capitalists in the state of Florida,” he says. “A funny thing happens when you start giving incentives and subsidies to companies, then all of a sudden the venture money starts showing up.”

Gov. Rick Scott wanted to shift half a billion dollars into Enterprise Florida’s coffers. But the agency has been criticized for using its funds inappropriately, lavishing its own—or business—with perks behind thick veils of secrecy, in the name of protecting companies. The Legislature largely rebuffed Scott’s request this year.

Still, Ceballos refers to the region locally as the new “Silicon Beach,” as in the beach’s version of Silicon Valley, but with more affordable housing. The region is poised for technology-related jobs, he says, as opposed to low-end, low-wage retail jobs (such as those Palm Coast is focused on.) How can his focus not be seen as a self-serving venture in itself? “I’m not running for my company, I’m running for education and technology jobs for this area,” he says.

His other goal is more attention to vocational education–an almost identical issue that Hutson says he champions. Ceballos wants to see a vocational school in the western part of the Flagler, for example. That may sound more like the job of a school board member, and an unusual priority at a time when some of the district’s schools still have 20 percent vacancies—there are no plans for a new school in the near future, and if there are, that school would not be anywhere near the west side—but Ceballos insists it’s a coming necessity, because not everyone is interested in college and the marketplace is demanding skilled vocational workers.

Ceballos said he’s spoken with two companies willing to partner with the local district to provide equipment for a vocational school. Hutson says the legislature’s role would be to offer tax incentive to such companies to encourage them to do just that.

Ceballos says he has no intention of running negatively against Hutson, whose achievements he acknowledges. That’s usually the promise of most start-up politicians: the campaign trail tends to disillusion them quickly of that ideal, especially in a political climate dangerously warming with bile. But relative to other campaigns, Hutson’s have tended to skirt mud and stick to letting his well-fed coffers do the talking.

On the other hand, Hutson said he’s been so busy with special sessions that he’s not had time to raise money, as he had in the past. He said the race from his perspective will be distilled to this: will voters want him to continue doing what he’s been doing, or will they want a change.

Support FlaglerLive's End of Year Fundraiser
Thank you readers for getting us to--and past--our year-end fund-raising goal yet again. It’s a bracing way to mark our 15th year at FlaglerLive. Our donors are just a fraction of the 25,000 readers who seek us out for the best-reported, most timely, trustworthy, and independent local news site anywhere, without paywall. FlaglerLive is free. Fighting misinformation and keeping democracy in the sunshine 365/7/24 isn’t free. Take a brief moment, become a champion of fearless, enlightening journalism. Any amount helps. We’re a 501(c)(3) non-profit news organization. Donations are tax deductible.  
You may donate openly or anonymously.
We like Zeffy (no fees), but if you prefer to use PayPal, click here.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Grateful Dad says

    April 27, 2016 at 10:11 pm

    Sounds like someone needs a paycheck at the taxpayers expense!

  2. Democrat is what we need for State Senate says

    April 27, 2016 at 11:57 pm

    Money has bought Hutson a place in the Senate! Glad to see some opposition go again st Hutson. No More Hutson!!!!!!!!!! Time to ween himself from Daddy and time for Hutson to get a job so he can relate to the working class.

  3. anonymous says

    April 28, 2016 at 12:47 am

    Im not voting for travis hutson. In time of need his office could care less.

  4. Robert Lewis says

    April 28, 2016 at 8:26 am

    This the same Ceballos who run for school board and lost?
    The same Ceballos who is only running for office as a way to market his company?

    Nice man, but stick to making apps and drinking Starbucks. Our district can’t afford someone in Tallahassee who will exercise absolutely no influence. Our district needs to be our priority.

  5. Sherry says

    April 28, 2016 at 9:06 am

    I’m quite happy to see a challenge to Hutson, and the vocational training is a good idea whose time has come. I just hope that training is for jobs of the ” future” instead of the “past”.

  6. AceDeadEyeJohnson says

    April 28, 2016 at 2:25 pm

    Just what we need representing us in Tallahassee….a BSer who BSs for the sake of BSing…..I personally have never believed a word he has ever said to me….FYI

  7. Brad W says

    May 1, 2016 at 10:21 am

    I like Curtis and I am glad to see him running, but I think he has a tough road ahead of him. And the road is going to be tougher if he isn’t careful who he is getting guidance from which right now is not good. He needs to be speaking about economy, jobs, and policy that will improve the areas as growth continues. This article is a clear example of not truly being prepared and having a clear message along with viable plans regarding the most important items on voters minds . . . the economy and job creation. Vocational schools? That’s school board stuff and not something a State Senator is going to get done and displays not truly being aware of the role.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

  • Conner Bosch law attorneys lawyers offices palm coast flagler county
  • grand living realty
  • politis matovina attorneys for justice personal injury law auto truck accidents

Primary Sidebar

  • grand living realty
  • politis matovina attorneys for justice personal injury law auto truck accidents

Recent Comments

  • Enough is enough on Danko No Longer District Director for Randy Fine; Congressman Calls for Nuking Gaza’s 2 Million Palestinians
  • Nephew Of Uncle Sam on Danko No Longer District Director for Randy Fine; Congressman Calls for Nuking Gaza’s 2 Million Palestinians
  • Dakota on Palm Coast City Attorney Calls Mayor Norris ‘Unprofessional and Inappropriate’ 3 Weeks After Censure for Similar Behavior
  • Jaii Hein on Danko No Longer District Director for Randy Fine; Congressman Calls for Nuking Gaza’s 2 Million Palestinians
  • Laurie Jo Jo Bergman on Margaritaville’s Compass Hotel in Flagler Beach Opens in Buffett-Themed Celebration of a Downtown Remade
  • Kat on Danko No Longer District Director for Randy Fine; Congressman Calls for Nuking Gaza’s 2 Million Palestinians
  • Critical Eye on Palm Coast City Attorney Calls Mayor Norris ‘Unprofessional and Inappropriate’ 3 Weeks After Censure for Similar Behavior
  • JimboXYZ on Danko No Longer District Director for Randy Fine; Congressman Calls for Nuking Gaza’s 2 Million Palestinians
  • Grey Man on Danko No Longer District Director for Randy Fine; Congressman Calls for Nuking Gaza’s 2 Million Palestinians
  • NJ on Danko No Longer District Director for Randy Fine; Congressman Calls for Nuking Gaza’s 2 Million Palestinians
  • Dave on Margaritaville’s Compass Hotel in Flagler Beach Opens in Buffett-Themed Celebration of a Downtown Remade
  • Canary on Danko No Longer District Director for Randy Fine; Congressman Calls for Nuking Gaza’s 2 Million Palestinians
  • Canary on Palm Coast City Attorney Calls Mayor Norris ‘Unprofessional and Inappropriate’ 3 Weeks After Censure for Similar Behavior
  • More Blondes on Afrikaners are South African Opportunists, Not Refugees
  • America First on Danko No Longer District Director for Randy Fine; Congressman Calls for Nuking Gaza’s 2 Million Palestinians
  • No political affiliation on Palm Coast’s Golden Chopsticks Buffet Open Again 2 Days After Sanitation Inspection Ordered It Closed

Log in