September 29, 2026 · Ormond Beach Buzz

Candidate Spotlight, Zone 3: Deaton Reelected After Rhodes Withdraws

By Staff report

Portrait of Zone 3 City Commissioner Kristin Deaton smiling in a black top against a soft blue studio backdrop. — Photo courtesy of Commissioner Kristin Deaton

The Zone 3 City Commission race will not be on the Nov. 3 ballot as a contest. Incumbent Kristin Deaton was automatically reelected to a second term after challenger Ted Rhodes withdrew from the race on Monday, Sept. 14.

The short version
Ted Rhodes withdrew Sept. 14, leaving Kristin Deaton unopposed.
Deaton is automatically reelected to a second term — no Zone 3 vote is needed.
Zone 2 and the Zone 4 runoff remain the city's November commission contests.
This updates an earlier Buzz preview that said Zone 3 would be decided in November.

Because Rhodes was her only opponent, no vote is needed. This installment of Ormond Beach Buzz's candidate series looks at both people who were in the race.

Kristin Deaton, Reelected

Deaton is a lifelong Ormond Beach resident and Seabreeze High School graduate who works as a sales manager and mortgage loan originator at Guild Mortgage. She serves on the Crime Stoppers board and has been involved with community groups including Women United. She was first elected in 2024.

In a statement after her reelection, Deaton said she felt grateful and humbled to earn a second term. She listed her priorities as affordability, responsible growth, infrastructure, public safety, and protecting the quality of life that makes Ormond Beach special, and said she looks forward to working with Mayor-elect Tolland and her fellow commissioners.

Ted Rhodes, Withdrew

Rhodes filed June 5, just days before the qualifying period. He is a 28-year Army veteran, including reserve service, who served in the Iraq War and worked in a unit that communicated information to the public while stationed in Baghdad. He moved to Ormond Beach from Phoenix in 2022 and said he entered the race after seeing more development in the area, noting his family didn't want the same changes here that they had seen elsewhere. It was his first run for office, though he had worked on three congressional campaigns.

In a statement on his withdrawal, Rhodes said he was proud to have kept his campaign focused on issues and professional criticisms rather than personal attacks. The reporting reviewed for this story does not say why he chose to withdraw.

The Numbers

Campaign finance reports on the Volusia County portal list Deaton with about $35,180 in monetary contributions and $1,500 in-kind, with roughly $12,761 spent. Rhodes reported about $6,353 in contributions and roughly $3,974 spent. His status is listed as withdrawn.

What It Means

The result removes one race from the November ballot and leaves Zone 2 and the Zone 4 runoff as the city's remaining commission contests. Deaton will serve alongside Mayor-elect Lori Tolland, Zone 1 winner Melissa DeVriese, and the winners of Zones 2 and 4.

An earlier Ormond Beach Buzz preview said Zone 3 would be decided in November. That is no longer the case.

Sources

Reported by Staff report for Ormond Beach Buzz. Candidate filings, precinct details and voting information come from the City of Ormond Beach.

Official city information