Challengers seek to flip Brevard County Commission voting bloc

Bryan Lober's late entry on Thursday into the County Commission District 2 race looks to be part of a strategy to gain a three-vote majority on the commission for what some tout as non-establishment candidates.

Lober is an attorney and treasurer of the Trump Club of Brevard. This is his first run for political office.

Currently, all five county commissioners are Republicans. But, on issues in which there is a split, Chair Rita Pritchett of District 1 and Commissioners Jim Barfield of District 2 and Curt Smith of District 4 often vote as a bloc.

On the other side of the vote typically is Commissioner John Tobia of District 3.

The District 5 commissioner, Vice Chair Kristine Isnardi, sometimes votes with Tobia and sometimes doesn't.

Tobia has made it no secret that he would like to get Smith defeated, and is pushing the candidacy for former County Commissioner Trudie Infantini, a Republican who will face Smith in an Aug. 28 GOP primary.

And, with Barfield not seeking re-election to a second four-year term because of business commitments, Lober is challenging the establishment candidate, former District 2 County Commissioner Chuck Nelson of Merritt Island, in a Republican primary.

There also will be a Democratic primary on Aug. 28 in the County Commission District 2 race between Victoria Mitchner of Cocoa and Jack Smink of Merritt Island.

Isnardi, Pritchett and Tobia all are in their second year of their first four-year term, so they are not up for election this year.

More:Chuck Nelson seeks return to Brevard County Commission, facing five other Republicans

Lober said he has been considering entering the race for some time, but did not file his paperwork until Thursday — one day before the end of the candidate qualifying period.

He plans to put somewhere between $20,000 and $50,000 of his own money into the campaign, and will not take outside campaign contributions.

"I’ve decided to enter this race, as I believe that District 2 constituents deserve to have a qualified candidate who will not simply be a yes-person and rubber stamp the endeavors of other commissioners," Lober said. "I’ve never previously sought elected public office, and I will be self-funding my campaign for District 2 County Commission and, consequently, there is no possibility of my being beholden to anyone in exchange for their financial support."

More:Smink is first Democrat to join crowded field for District 2 County Commission seat

Lober said he will be "fiscally conservative and will ensure that county funds are not gratuitously spent and that taxes aren’t raised unless the need is genuine and extenuating, and there exist no meaningful alternatives. Each and every vote impacting the residents and businesses within District 2 needs to be evaluated with appropriate due diligence having already been performed and in a manner consistent with the desires and goals of the electorate."

Lober, who is a Republican precinct committeeman and immediate past president of the Brevard County Bar Association, said his candidacy represents an effort to challenge "the good-old-boy network."

Lober, a resident of Rockledge, said he has discussed his candidacy with current and former elected officials, but would not disclose who those conversations were with.

Nelson said he is not surprised to see a new Republican candidate enter the race, because he felt there is a faction in the GOP that wants someone other than him in office. 

But he said Lober's comments were interesting because he believes Lober "would be a rubber stamp for the south county commissioners," referring to Isnardi and Tobia.

Nelson held the District 2 seat for two terms from 2006 to 2014. He could not seek re-election in 2014 because of term limits. He previously was Brevard County's parks and recreation director for nearly 15 years. Nelson was executive director of the Merritt Island Redevelopment Agency from October to March, when he resigned from that position to focus on the County Commission race.

District 2 includes Avon by the Sea, Cape Canaveral, Cocoa Beach, Kennedy Space Center, Port Canaveral and Snug Harbor, as well as most of Merritt Island, and portions of Cocoa, Rockledge and Patrick Air Force Base.

Among the active District 2 candidates, according to their latest campaign financing reports, including in-kind contributions:

• Mitchner has raised $4,582, and spent $1,505.

• Nelson has raised $46,316 and spent $9,030

• Smink has raised $11,200 and spent $9,771.

At one time, there were a number of other announced candidates in the District 2 race. But five Republican candidates, one Democratic candidate and one Libertarian candidate enter subsequently withdraw from the race.

The salary for county commissioners is $58,145 a year.

Infantini, the District 4 challenger, was the District 3 county commissioner from 2008 to 2016, but could not seek re-election in 2016 because of term limits. By sitting out two years, Infantini now is eligible to run for County Commission again. She has moved to Viera, which is in District 4.

Infantini is a certified public accountant and an accounting instructor at Florida Institute of Technology. 

Smith, a resident of Melbourne, retired in 2013 after owning a Maaco auto-painting franchise in Melbourne for more than 26 years.

Also in the race is are:

• Democrat Matthew Fleming of Satellite Beach, who owns a pressure-washing business.

• Write-in candidate Richard Charbonneau of Satellite Beach, who is a retired airline pilot.

Infantini has raised $39,399 in cash and in-kind contributions, and has spent $19,380 so far during the campaign, according to reports through May 31.

But Smith has raised much more, $104,828, while spending a little less, $16,611.

Business Voice backs incumbents

The Business Voice Political Committee board of directors endorsed six incumbents in state, county and school board races.

Among the eight just-announced endorsements, the only two non-incumbents endorsed are running in races in which incumbents are not seeking re-election.

Business Voice Executive Director Kathryn Rudloff said these endorsements were made "after a rigorous review of the area races, including written candidate surveys and in-person interviews." 

The group uses seven criteria to rate candidates before making a decision: presentation, experience, knowledge, campaign organization, ethics/integrity, service-mindedness and business-mindedness.  

The endorsements include:

• Florida Senate District 14: Incumbent Republican Dorothy Hukill was endorsed.

She will face Democrat Melissa Martin in the general election.

• Florida House District 50: Incumbent Republican Rene Plasencia was endorsed.

He will face George Collins in a Republican primary. The winner will face Democrat Pam Dirchka in the general election.

• Florida House District 51: Republican Tyler Sirois was endorsed.

He will face Henry Parrish in a Republican primary. Republican Thomas "Pat" O'Neill also was planning to run, but did not qualify for a spot on the ballot by the noon Friday deadline for  qualifying, according to the Florida Division of Elections website.

The primary winner will face Democrat Mike Blake in the general election.

The incumbent in that district, Republican Tom Goodson, cannot seek re-election because of term limits.

• Florida House District 52: Incumbent Republican Thad Altman was endorsed.

He will face Matt Nye in a Republican primary. The primary winner will face Democrat Seeta Begui in the general election.

• Brevard County Commission District 2: Republican Chuck Nelson was endorsed.

He will face Republican Bryan Lober in a GOP primary. There also will be a Democratic primary between Victoria Mitchner and Jack Smink.

Incumbent Republican Jim Barfield is not seeking re-election.

• Brevard County Commission District 4: Incumbent Republican Curt Smith was endorsed.

He will face Republican Trudie Infantini in a GOP primary. The winner will face Democrat Matthew Fleming and write-in candidate Richard Charbonneau in the general election.

• Brevard School Board District 1: Incumbent Misty Belford was endorsed.

She will face David Meader and Shana Moore in the nonpartisan race. Moore is a write-in candidate.

• Brevard School Board District 5: Incumbent Andy Ziegler was endorsed.

He will face three challengers in the nonpartisan race — Katye Campbell, Kelly Damerow and Dean Paterakis.

“The state Legislature, the County Commission and our local school board have an incredible impact on the local economy,” Rudloff said in a statement. “Ensuring the Space Coast remains a great place to live, work and do business is our priority. That is why local job creators are excited to support these proven leaders who are committed to the long-term health and sustainability of our diverse regional economy.”

“Now more than ever, we need elected leaders who can bring people together to find solutions for the tough problems we face,” Business Voice Chairman Larry McIntyre  said. “From restoring the Indian River Lagoon to keeping our children safe, we are committed to supporting candidates who are able to effectively govern and ensure that local and state government help, and not hinder, our regional economy.” 

Business Voice says it aims to promote pro-business candidates and a pro-business legislative agenda. 

The organization plans to announce other endorsements later.

The Republican and Democratic primaries are Aug. 28. The general election is Nov. 6.

Dave Berman is government editor at FLORIDA TODAY. 

Contact Berman at 321-242-3649

or dberman@floridatoday.com.

Twitter: @bydaveberman

Facebook: /dave.berman.54

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