Leadership isn’t a buzzword, nor skills that are learned at a conference. Leadership skills are acquired by running towards chaos and making split second decisions that could involve life and death. Leadership is a result of being in the middle of the storm and guiding those under your command to push forward with their only focus being on mission success and survival.

Leadership is putting one's own safety on the line without a second thought, not sitting somewhere secure and giving orders for others to follow. I have taken on those challenges for decades, focusing first on saving the lives of others. https://youtu.be/ZSArQUn3TO8 (see the embedded video for reference)

I have also been the victim of the storm. I have stood knee deep, and watched as flood waters overtook the home I had built over 40 years while watching many of my neighbor’s homes be swallowed up by the rushing water and destroyed.

Anyone can attend seminars and conferences on the taxpayer’s dime, and learn the latest corporate buzzwords, but buzzwords don’t stop raging water nor do they rescue members of our community who are caught up in them. Only knowledge, skills, and experience, honed in the fire of reality with split second decisions made from that experience will win the day.

Exactly how much should taxpayers spend for their local representatives to travel all over the country to listen to the latest in how to make a tragedy sound better than it actually is?

I don’t need buzzwords. When faced with an emergency one doesn’t “Highlight sustainability initiatives” , “pivot our strategy to align with political dynamics” or “optimize our core competencies to drive value creation”. No, one acts based on decades of experience in the trenches, facing real life challenges and making life and death decisions.

I’ve been in the ditches, businesses, homes, waterways with your family, friends, neighbors and complete strangers. Whether dropping from the sky, running up by boat, ambulance or patrol car, or leading teams, I’ve been there for everyone, saving lives, protecting property and always making split second decisions that make a difference.

I can promise you,I will never ask you to spend your hard-earned tax dollars so that I can learn the latest in corporate speak. It really won’t come in all that handy when I’m knee deep in the mud, making real world decisions to deal with real world catastrophes.

What have we learned over the past five decades in Volusia County? The best laid plans don’t stop Mother Nature and if you can’t stop the storm, you’d better be prepared to lace up your boots and head into it because actions speak louder than words.

My school has been the last 47 years of my life serving you – the citizens of Volusia County, fellow disaster victims across America, and our military overseas. I was deployed to Homestead/Florida City after Hurricane Andrew; I’ve deployed teams across America in times of need. I worked the wildfires of 1985 and 1998, right here at home, over 20 hurricanes and Tropical Storms, spent years in the Middle East working with the best America can give in the continued defense of our freedom. I also built and ran a local business where I employed locals, paid taxes, made payroll, and supported those that support us every day!

I have multiple degrees from several Universities and Colleges and my entire resume has made me the best fit, and most ready to lead Volusia County as our At Large Representative. I don’t have any political baggage, and I am not encumbered by big business donors.

I am here to support you, work for you, listen to you, and do your work to make Volusia County a place still worth living in for the future.

I’m asking for your support and vote on August 18th, Get out and vote!

Thank you.

Mike Poniatowski for Volusia County Council at Large.

About Mike

Introduction: Mike Poniatowski announces his candidacy for the At Large Seat of the Volusia County Council in the 2026 elections.
Background:
Lifelong resident of Volusia County, grew up on the beach and graduated from Spruce Creek High School in 1977.
Diverse career in public safety: Firefighter (5 years), Police Officer/Deputy Sheriff (37 years), Paramedic/EMT (35 years), SWAT Team member, flight medic, marine deputy, EMS instructor, and Director of Operations for EVAC Ambulance (22 years).
Extensive leadership experience as Emergency Manager for Florida’s largest hospital system and US Government contractor overseas.
Community Involvement:
Resides in Port Orange with his wife Lydia; have lived in the same home for 37 years.
Active participant in preserving the rural character of Tomoka Farms Village, fighting against development threats for over three decades.
Concerns for Volusia County:
Witnessed rapid growth, erosion of green spaces, and lagging infrastructure development causing traffic congestion and flooding issues.
Advocates for better management of taxes and fees with tangible results for residents.

Paid for by Mike Poniatowski for Volusia County Council at Larg

Educational Credentials:
Holds degrees in Emergency Medical Sciences, Management and Supervision, Political Science, and pursued advanced studies in Homeland Security, Emergency Management, and Public Health.
Certified EMT and Paramedic with numerous national and international credentials.
Vision and Commitment:
Pledges to represent citizens as his sole "special interest."
Promises fiscal responsibility, careful evaluation of development projects to prevent flooding, and protection of residents' homes and legacies.
Plans to address flooding issues with urgency and replace ineffective staff if necessary.
Personal Life:
Family-oriented with three daughters, three granddaughters, a brand new Grandson, pets, horses, and wildlife at home.
Enjoys outdoor activities like shooting sports and teaching community courses on active shooter survival and emergency response.
Closing Statement: Mike looks forward to serving Volusia County residents with dedication, listening to their concerns, and working tirelessly to improve their quality of life.

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As you know we have been fighting the Creek Crossing development, in unincorporated Volusia County / Port Orange for almost a full year. If this subdivision is allowed to go through it will be the final blow to the Spruce Creek Watershed because it will be built right on Spruce Creek, a designated Florida Historic Waterway - destroying thousands, yes thousands, we counted them, of old growth oaks among others and it will destroy wildlife habitat and displace hundreds of millions of gallons of storm water runoff. This will flood Spruce Creek Fly In, A Quiet Place in the Country and Spruce Creek Farms among others. With Spruce Creeks decades long lack of maintenance, this will cause further upstream flooding and addition tail water that will end up in our living rooms and garages. This is historically accurate information! Please share this video widely to get our message out. We forced the developer to withdraw their PUD and now they are coming back with a Conservation Subdivision that actually places a pickleball court over a designated wetland that they plan to fill.

We need your help! We must stop Creek Crossing!!!

#stopcreekcrossing @everyone

March 3rd, I went before the Volusia County Council to add my voice to the fight to restore current funding to those worthwhile local Arts endeavors who had their funding pulled back in October of last year, even though that funding had already been approved and budgeted for, using a newly adopted application process, as directed by the council.

Here are my comments;

Mike Poniatowski Tomoka Farms Village.

Good morning. The 7 of you were elected to represent the will of the people, your constituents.

We didn’t elect you to be our religious or moral authority, to tell us what we should or should not watch, visit, or experience.

We do ask you to spend our tax money wisely, and if we see waste we should let you know what that waste is, loud and clear.

I believe, without any input from your constituents, this funding was pulled without any public outcry; in fact, Councilman Robins, said he was sitting at the airport, waiting on a flight to Montana, going over some budget issues and he had a personal epiphany about what we should be funding in regard to “The Arts”!

So, at the next council meeting Councilman Robins asked that item H, the 2025-26 community cultural grants, be pulled from the consent agenda for discussion.

That discussion devolved into a confusing, bottom of the 9th inning pitching change, that ended with the game being thrown and all of the funding being pulled back, the proverbial pulling the rug out from under 32 organizations who since 2012 have qualified for this funding, for hundreds of very valuable community arts programs!

These are valuable endeavors, that bring thousands of visitors and residents out to experience and spend money on all year long. I know that my family has visited almost every one of these programs. If we had wanted you to cut the spending, we would have asked you to, but we did not. Granted, it is this council’s prerogative to change the program requirements, or even eliminate it, but for a time in the future.

Not after budgets have been set, the money has been awarded and these programs are ready to roll.

I’m sure that most of you pay for cable TV or some premium movie app where there are programs that don’t sit right with what your personal beliefs are, and what do you do?? You do not watch those programs; you turn the channel or switch off the TV.

I don’t expect the government to tell me what to watch or what not to watch. We live in a Democratic Republic and that decision is up to me, and every other individual in this room.

I will agree that Arts Funding is not a core responsibility of government, but neither is the construction nor running of a government funded Motor Cross Track.

But I firmly believe more would be positively served by this arts funding being restored, today, as it was slated last year.

Thank you.

The vote to fund this year was passed 5-2, with the council voting to cancel all future funding, in light of the possible elimination of Ad Valorum Taxes on Homesteaded properties.

They realize they may need to really tighten our belts going forward, which it the right thing to do. This topic can be revisited in the future should circumstances change.

I find it interesting that Councilman Robins still voted against the funding as well as Councilman Kent who got all the funding he needed to champion and open two dog beaches. Dog Beaches that I wholeheartedly support, but disingenuous none-the-less.

Today our voices were heard, but we still need to stay in the game and work in other ways to support the critical arts programs that keep our children off the streets, in the class rooms and culturally enriched!