Volusia County, FL, Council Meeting
5 May 2026
Angelo Para (242 words)

Good morning. As we gather today in this chamber of public trust, we pause a moment in reflection.

Two and a half centuries ago, a bold experiment in self-governance began ... shaped by imperfect people striving toward enduring ideals:

• liberty, justice,

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

These were startling notions to much of the world.

This experiment in liberty, justice, and self-governance now rests, in part, in your hands.

You have been entrusted by your communities 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 shared civic life. Therefore ...

May you be guided by a clarity of purpose – the best interests our communities – 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, of our communities, and of the well-being of our diverse citizenry.

Lastly, as this nation approaches its 250th anniversary, the measure of our strength will not be found in its past alone, but in the wisdom, creativity restraint, and resolve demonstrated in rooms like this one.

Thank you.