Candidate: Denise Calderwood

Dear Voter, This year you have a unique opportunity. Traditionally, candidates for public office in America are drawn from the two major party systems, reflect their party’s strategic platform and conform to long-held philosophies of Republican conservatism or Democratic liberalism. It has often been difficult to find a candidate who breaks that mold, who gives you a real option. The opportunity you have this year is to elect a County Commissioner from neither of those parties, one who is a proven leader, a home-grown advocate for the future of the County, its cities, its seniors, its youth and all its families. Elect Denise Calderwood! Denise grew up in Palm Coast, attended Bunnell Elementary School and Flagler Palm Coast High School, graduated from University of South Florida (Master’s degree) and University of Central Florida(Bachelor’s)in Public Administration. Denise has been married to Richard Calderwood for twenty five years and counting, raised two step children, has one grandchild and is a small business owner in Flagler County. Denise is an active participant in county, school and community affairs and has been since her early teens. She graduated from all of the Citizen’s Academies,(Flagler County, Flagler County School Board, and the Flagler County Sheriff’s Department and she is scheduled to attend the City of Palm Coast Academy) and graduated from the Flagler County Chamber of Commerce Leadership Academy(and taught several sessions for future classes and offered the first youth version). Throughout her teenage years, she consistently contributed and gave back to Flagler community through early and active participation in local organizations, founding the Flagler County Sheriff’s Explorer program and participating in Kiwanis Key Club and school sports. As an adult, she takes an active interest in the well being of Flagler County by being active in the Kiwanis Club of Flagler Palm Coast, The DIVAS Club, and by founding an advocacy group called, Focus on Flagler. At its founding, Focus on Flagler was responsible for designing and operating the Teen Center and creating the collaborations that still stand today. Throughout the formation and operation of the center, Denise demonstrated the need for every family to get involved politically to ensure its future support. She engaged community groups, non-profits, volunteers, local and state governments and became a well-known community organizer and advocate, not only for youth, but also for every family in the County and she received national recognition for her efforts. Denise’s first avocation has always been public and social services. Since her teens, she has been active in local law enforcement and public safety. She served as a dispatcher for the Flagler Beach Police Department and a volunteer firefighter with the Flagler Beach Fire Department. She worked as a reserve police officer for the Daytona Beach Police Department while completing her college education, and later as a deputy and school resource officer for the Flagler County Sheriff\'s Office. Later, she became a social worker and Administrator with the Department of Children and Families and then a program administrator with the Flagler County Health Department and then a School Administrator, working with drop-outs and now, she is a business owner, working to bring needed resources to Flagler County through grant writing, strategic planning and small business development. Since bringing her business back to Flagler County in 2012, Denise has been instrumental in bringing in over $500,000 in grants and services to county to support the arts, healthcare, youth, recreation and economic development. Denise believes in public service. She also believes in setting an example and being a role model. As a County Commissioner, Denise Calderwood will demonstrate the philosophy of: • Open and transparent management with an emphasis on collaboration, not adversity • Fiscal responsibility and conservatism • Being socially responsible and environmentally friendly • Preserving and protecting individual rights •Creating real jobs that exist and supporting local businesses first and then recruiting outside firms with minimal incentives • Making the government responsive to the needs of the majority of the people and •Being an advocate for Flagler County and ensuring that the county has its fair share of resources from the federal, state, regional governments and from Volusia County- where we share several joint programs but don’t get our share of the money or resources. Give yourself another choice this November. Choose Denise Calderwood for Flagler County Commissioner District 4. Denise has a vision for Flagler County, she has values, she is versatile and she is a vibrant candidate. Denise Calderwood is what this County really needs…someone who cares about our future!