Palm Bay Elections: Comprehensive Review of Candidate Visions for the Future
To offer voters valuable insights into the viewpoints of the candidates vying for Palm Bay Mayor and City Council, we sourced ten questions that were shared with each candidate. Here, we have summarized the responses from participating candidates, unveiling their distinct visions for the city. Additionally, we have included each candidate's complete answers as submitted to us, aiding voters in making informed decisions on Election Day.
Palm Bay Mayoral and City Council Candidate Responses
Mayoral Candidates
Edith M. Rivera
Rivera's responses highlight a balanced approach to growth, emphasizing comprehensive planning, community engagement, and sustainable development:
Infrastructure and Development: Proposes a robust city-wide comprehensive planning process, prioritizing infrastructure investment through partnerships with developers.
Public Safety and Crime: Plans to expand community policing programs, invest in advanced crime prevention technologies, and strengthen partnerships with local organizations.
Government Transparency and Corruption: Advocates for stringent ethics reforms, open data initiatives, and regular town hall meetings to increase transparency.
Environmental Sustainability: Supports sustainable development practices, preservation efforts, and enhanced emergency preparedness.
Public Services and Amenities: Plans to allocate funds for parks and recreational facilities, foster public-private partnerships, and ensure equitable access to amenities.
Taxes and Budget Priorities: Prioritizes essential services, explores revenue diversification, and implements transparent budgeting processes.
Septic to Sewer Transition: Advocates for financial assistance programs, low-interest loans, and educational outreach to support homeowners.
Economic Development: Proposes targeted business incentives, workforce development, and sector diversification to attract new businesses.
Transportation and Mobility: Plans to expand public transit routes, invest in transportation infrastructure, and explore ride-sharing initiatives.
Community Engagement: Promotes accessible meetings, enhanced digital platforms, and neighborhood councils to improve community engagement.
Tatiana Rosado
We reached out to all candidates via the email addresses they provided in their candidate applications. Despite multiple reminders and follow-ups we received no response. This raises concerns about their responsiveness to voter inquiries.
Santa Isabel Wright
We reached out to all candidates via the email addresses they provided in their candidate applications. Despite multiple reminders and follow-ups we received no response. This raises concerns about their responsiveness to voter inquiries.
City Council Seat 2
Richard 'Mike' Hammer
Hammer's responses focus on revising impact fees, strategic business attraction, and community engagement:
Infrastructure and Development: Advocates for revising impact fees and strategic business attraction to balance growth.
Public Safety and Crime: Proposes increasing impact fees to fund police staffing and equipment.
Government Transparency and Corruption: Refuses donations from developers and proposes an Operational Oversight Committee.
Environmental Sustainability: Supports reintroducing the volunteer firefighter program and better water management.
Public Services and Amenities: Calls for experienced staff and better funding for parks and recreation.
Taxes and Budget Priorities: Advocates for attracting businesses to lower the tax burden.
Septic to Sewer Transition: Opposes mandatory hookups, advocating for financial assistance.
Economic Development: Proposes attracting high-quality businesses and creating a welcoming environment.
Transportation and Mobility: Believes current public transportation is adequate but needs future planning.
Community Engagement: Advocates for transparency and regular community meetings.
Patric McNally
McNally emphasizes the need for developers to contribute to infrastructure improvements and better promotion of existing amenities:
Infrastructure and Development: Emphasizes the need for developers to contribute to infrastructure improvements.
Public Safety and Crime: Advocates for hiring more first responders and updating their equipment.
Government Transparency and Corruption: Advocates for improved communication and regular town hall meetings.
Environmental Sustainability: Emphasizes water management facilities and proactive fire mitigation tactics.
Public Services and Amenities: Highlights existing amenities and the need for better promotion.
Taxes and Budget Priorities: Prioritizes funding for first responders and infrastructure.
Septic to Sewer Transition: Seeks grant funding and rebates to offset costs.
Economic Development: Focuses on attracting manufacturing companies with high salaries.
Transportation and Mobility: Prioritizes the SCAT bus voucher program and upgrading bus stops.
Community Engagement: Challenges residents to stay informed and suggests better use of social media.
City Council Seat 3
Michael Bruyette
Bruyette's responses focus on balancing residential and commercial development and supporting youth programs:
Infrastructure and Development: Proposes a hiatus on residential builds to focus on commercial development.
Public Safety and Crime: Suggests adding 40 police officers and an auxiliary station in the Compound.
Government Transparency and Corruption: Proposes using social media to explain council votes.
Environmental Sustainability: Ensures high standards for water and wastewater management.
Public Services and Amenities: Plans to support youth sports programs and non-profit organizations.
Taxes and Budget Priorities: Focuses on providing resources over expanding the workforce.
Septic to Sewer Transition: Questions the financial responsibility for upgrades.
Economic Development: Encourages council solicitation of large commercial businesses.
Transportation and Mobility: Open to dialogue on transportation issues.
Community Engagement: Promises to factor public concerns into council votes.
Eileen Sepp
Sepp's responses emphasize community engagement, environmental sustainability, and fiscal responsibility:
Infrastructure and Development: Calls for more realistic impact fees and homeowner consent for significant developments.
Public Safety and Crime: Promotes community watch programs and better emergency management facilities.
Government Transparency and Corruption: Suggests denying voting rights to officials who accept donations from developers.
Environmental Sustainability: Proposes better animal control and groundwater preservation methods.
Public Services and Amenities: Suggests more events and purposeful components in parks.
Taxes and Budget Priorities: Proposes lowering taxes and better resource management.
Septic to Sewer Transition: Opposes mandatory city water connections.
Economic Development: Calls for an experienced economic development team and making Palm Bay a destination.
Transportation and Mobility: Proposes county-wide bus projects and better traffic management.
Community Engagement: Proposes tabling council decisions if enough residents object.
Peter Filiberto
Filiberto's responses focus on public safety, infrastructure, and community engagement:
Infrastructure and Development: Ensures developments meet criteria for schools, public safety, and utilities.
Public Safety and Crime: Supports resource allocation for police and fire departments, with plans for new stations.
Government Transparency and Corruption: Overhauled the development process for increased transparency.
Environmental Sustainability: Focuses on Indian River Lagoon protection and water system upgrades.
Public Services and Amenities: Uses impact fees to create new parks and recreational facilities.
Taxes and Budget Priorities: Supports using impact fees and grants for budget priorities.
Septic to Sewer Transition: Encourages sewer hookups for environmental benefits.
Economic Development: Highlights recent business attractions and plans for the Bayfront Community Redevelopment Area.
Transportation and Mobility: Ensures sidewalks and traffic lights are installed in new developments.
Community Engagement: Supports quarterly town halls and direct communication with residents.
David Anthony Kearns
We reached out to all candidates via the email addresses they provided in their candidate applications. Despite multiple reminders and follow-ups we received no response. This raises concerns about their responsiveness to voter inquiries.
Chandler Austin Langevin
We reached out to all candidates via the email addresses they provided in their candidate applications. Despite multiple reminders and follow-ups we received no response. This raises concerns about their responsiveness to voter inquiries.
Incumbent Candidates Who Did Not Respond, But Have a Voting Record:
Note to Reader
We sent the questionnaire to the incumbents running for office, but only Councilman Donny J. Felix responded. He provided one of his campaign fliers. However, we have access to nearly four years of voting records, which we can analyze to make educated assumptions about their stances on each issue. Again, We reached out to all candidates via the email addresses they provided in their candidate applications. Despite multiple reminders and follow-ups we received no response. This raises concerns about their responsiveness to voter inquiries, particularly when it comes to incumbents seeking reelection.
Rob Medina (Incumbent)
Mayor Medina did not respond to the questionnaire. However, based on his voting record, we can infer his likely stances on key issues:
Infrastructure and Development: Leans towards promoting development, with growing awareness of infrastructure needs.
Public Safety and Crime: Strong advocate for public safety, supporting increased funding for police and fire departments.
Government Transparency and Corruption: Values transparency but has faced criticism for lack of transparency in certain decisions.
Environmental Sustainability: Concerned about the environment but often prioritizes development.
Public Services and Amenities: Recognizes the need for improved amenities, supporting projects like park improvements.
Taxes and Budget Priorities: Fiscally conservative, opposing tax increases unless necessary.
Septic to Sewer Transition: Strongly supports the transition for public health and environmental reasons.
Economic Development: Prioritizes attracting businesses and creating jobs, particularly in technology and manufacturing.
Transportation and Mobility: Supports road widening projects and traffic signal installations, exploring cost-effective solutions.
Community Engagement: Values public input but has been criticized for inconsistent transparency.
Donny J. Felix (Incumbent)
Councilman Felix did not respond to the questionnaire. However, based on his voting record, we can infer his likely stances on key issues:
Infrastructure and Development: Supports development projects, emphasizing the need for commercial and industrial growth.
Public Safety and Crime: Verbally supportive but fiscally conservative, voting against additional funding for police and fire departments (7 September 2023).
Government Transparency and Corruption: Values transparency but has been criticized for political considerations.
Environmental Sustainability: Supports sustainable practices but often prioritizes development.
Public Services and Amenities: Supports community projects with a focus on fiscal responsibility.
Taxes and Budget Priorities: Fiscally conservative, prioritizing a balanced budget.
Septic to Sewer Transition: Strongly supports the transition.
Economic Development: Prioritizes attracting high-wage businesses.
Transportation and Mobility: Supports road widening and traffic signal projects.
Community Engagement: Values public input but favors efficiency and control.
Notes:
In addition to this overview, it is noteworthy to mention that we reached out to all candidates via the email addresses they provided in their candidate applications. Should a candidate not respond within three weeks, despite multiple reminders and follow-ups, it raises concerns about their responsiveness to voter inquiries. The willingness to engage with the platform set up to amplify their voices speaks volumes about their potential receptiveness to constituents.
Thanks Thomas
I will vote for anyone against these developers coming in and only building HOA's or Apartments on every street corner. There is more of a need to clean up what we have, more jobs, etc..