In a May 8, 2016 Reader's Editorial - published within the Daytona Beach News Journal - local businessman Jack White penned an opinion titled "Don't abandon Safe Harbor plan"

The Daytona Beach News Journal appropriately qualified Mr. White as "the owner of the Jack White Land Co. and Challis-White Redevelopment. His projects include the Wall Street Lofts, William Square and the WC Grand in downtown Daytona Beach, and White Star Properties, which operates several historic buildings on Beach Street. He is married to Daytona Beach City Commissioner Kelly White.

During the May 18, 2016 meeting of the Daytona Beach City Commission - local homeless advocate - Tom Rebman expressed his concerns to the City Commission - that based on Mr. White's published comments and admissions - that Commissioner Kelly White has a familial financial interest in the downtown area. Since the downtown area is directly connected to on-going debate regarding the location of the proposed homeless shelter - that Commissioner White should recuse herself from any further discussions and voting on the matter.

While we found Commissioner Gilliland's comments to Mr. Rebman to be both inappropriate and unprofessional. Commissioner Gilliland's comments and actions reminded us of somewhat similar allegations that were lodged against him during his 2014 arrest. (See attached link to the WESH-TV media article - right of page)

We do agree with another City Commissioners' comments that Mr. White has the right to express his own beliefs regarding the city's pending decision of building the proposed "Safe Harbor" homeless shelter - off of U.S. 92 - near the county Branch Jail.

However, with that said - there is a difference in merely expressing an opinion - and forwarding a financial agenda under the guise of an opinion. And while we will defend Mr. White's right to voice his opinion - we will simultaneously defend the public's right to have their elected officials develop appropriate public policies - free of personal financial agendas.

On May 19, 2016 - Rebman expressed further concerns on his Facebook page of Homeless and Hungry that Jack White was the registered owner of the web domain of "VolusiaSafeHarbor.Org". Later - that same day - the ownership of the web domain was transferred to the City of Daytona Beach. (See attached screen shots of the web domain's ownership change)

We (VolusiaExposed.Com) believe that Mr. White's editorial did expressed a familial financial interest in the downtown Daytona Beach area - and his apparent 2015 purchase - and later transfer of the "VolusiaSafeHarbor.Org" domain only further supports his - and therefore his family's financial interests in the overall homeless shelter matter.

We found Mr. Gilliland's comments regarding the media disturbing. In this country - government officials are answerable to the public - with the media serving as one of the defacto gatekeepers of the public's access to their government officials. It's significant that over 200 years ago - when our founding fathers were tweaking our country's Constitution - by developing our Bill of Rights - their first concern was to ensure a free and independent press (media).

We (VolusiaExposed.Com) leave it to you - our readers - to determine for yourself whether Commissioner Kelly White has ethical, financial and moral conflicts of interest attached to the homeless shelter matter.