Deland, FL, Council Meeting
6 July 2026
Angelo Parra (265 words)

Good evening. As a citizen of DeLand and representative of the Central Florida Freethought Community, I’m honored to have the opportunity to open this meeting.

We’ve just come off a weekend celebrating the 250th anniversary of a bold experiment in self-governance ... shaped by imperfect people striving toward enduring ideals:

• liberty, justice,

• and the belief that power derives from the consent of the governed.

250 years ago, these were startling and dangerous notions ... which, had things gone differently, would have cost the Founding Fathers their lives.

Today, this continuing experiment in liberty, justice, and self-governance rests, in part, in your hands.

You have been entrusted by our community not simply to lead, but to listen; not merely to decide, but to deliberate with care and integrity. The responsibilities you carry are not abstract ... they affect lives, shape futures, and define the character of our diverse community. Therefore ...

• May you be guided by a clarity of purpose – the best interests our community – even in moments of complexity and distraction.

• May you opt not for what is expedient, but what is right.

• May disagreement sharpen your thinking, without dulling your respect for those who see things differently.

• May you remember that public service, at its best, is an act of stewardship ... a stewardship of our democratic principles and of the well-being of our remarkable community.

Lastly, we should remember that the measure of our strength is not to be found in the past alone, but in the wisdom, creativity, and concern for our friends and neighbors ... demonstrated in this room.

Thank you.