GENERAL ELECTION 2020 RESULTS
This was an election unlike anything many of us have seen in our lifetime. Polarizing and divisive are two words that come to mind. Campaigning in the midst of a pandemic, not to mention the demonstrations demanding social justice, only added to the unique election season we encountered. There has never been a greater need for strong leaders that are accountable to their constituents and the candidates on the Space Coast did not disappoint.
Florida had a very high turnout with more than 11 million votes in the state alone, making up 78 percent of registered voters and 51 percent of the overall population. In Brevard county, the turnout was even higher – 80.24% of registered voters cast a ballot this year accounting for over 360,000 ballots cast. In addition to the many important races on the ballot, there were several amendments and referendums that will have an impact on business on the Space Coast.
For an overall snapshot of the results from key races on the local, state and federal level that are important to the Space Coast region, please see below:
FEDERAL
US Congress: This is a partisan race and the incumbent held the seat.
Florida Senate – Central Florida Districts
Brevard County Constitutional Office: Constitutional Offices are partisan races.
Constitution Amendments – Citizen-led/Petition: As a reminder, each statewide constitutional amendment needs 60 percent approval to pass. Brevard County and City questions need 50 percent approval to pass.
This was an election unlike anything many of us have seen in our lifetime. Polarizing and divisive are two words that come to mind. Campaigning in the midst of a pandemic, not to mention the demonstrations demanding social justice, only added to the unique election season we encountered. There has never been a greater need for strong leaders that are accountable to their constituents and the candidates on the Space Coast did not disappoint.
Florida had a very high turnout with more than 11 million votes in the state alone, making up 78 percent of registered voters and 51 percent of the overall population. In Brevard county, the turnout was even higher – 80.24% of registered voters cast a ballot this year accounting for over 360,000 ballots cast. In addition to the many important races on the ballot, there were several amendments and referendums that will have an impact on business on the Space Coast.
For an overall snapshot of the results from key races on the local, state and federal level that are important to the Space Coast region, please see below:
FEDERAL
US Congress: This is a partisan race and the incumbent held the seat.
- Congressional District 8 (Brevard County)
- U.S. Representative Bill Posey – R (Incumbent) won with 61.4% of the vote against Jim Kennedy – D.
Florida Senate – Central Florida Districts
- District 17 (Brevard & Indian River Counties)
- Senator Debbie Mayfield – R (Incumbent) won with 58.82% of the vote against Scot Fretwell – D and Phillip Snyder – NPA.
- District 50 (Brevard & Orange Counties)
- Representative Rene “Coach P” Plasencia – R (Incumbent) won with 57.21% of the vote against Nina Yoakum – D
- District 51 (Brevard County)
- Representative Tyler Sirois – R (Incumbent) won with 61.81% of the vote against Joan Marie Majid – D
- District 52 (Brevard County)
- Representative Thad Altman –R (Incumbent) won with 62.32% of the vote against Lloyd Dabbs –D.
- District 53 (Brevard County)
- Representative Randy Fine – R (Incumbent) won with 55.39% of the vote against Phil Moore – D.
Brevard County Constitutional Office: Constitutional Offices are partisan races.
- Brevard County Sheriff:
- Sheriff Wayne Ivey – R won with 66.06% of the vote against Alton Edmond – D.
- District 1:
- Commissioner Rita Pritchett – R (Incumbent) won with 67.71% of the vote against Dwight Seigler – D.
- District 3:
- Commissioner John Tobia – R (Incumbent) won with 55.52% of the vote against Sanjay Patel – D.
- District 5:
- Kristine Isnardi – R (Incumbent) won with 58.81% of the vote against William Capote – D.
- Canaveral Port Authority
- Kevin Markey – R won with 60.53% of the vote against Paul “Coach” Kellum – D.
- Indialantic Mayor
- David I. Berkman (Incumbent) won with 75.34% of the vote against Melvyn Chang and Edwin J. Mackiewicz III.
- Melbourne Mayor
- Paul Alfrey won with 38.36% of the vote against Hazel Buggs, CJ Johnson and Molly Tasker.
- Melbourne City Council – District 1
- Tim Thomas (Incumbent) won with 59.04% of the vote against Dean Paterakis.
- Melbourne City Council – District 3
- Yvonne Minus (Incumbent) won with 46.77% of the vote against Vilma Negron and David Neuman.
- Melbourne City Council – District 5
- Mimi Hanley won with 30.69% of the vote against Martin Lamb, Logan Luse and Samantha Nazario.
- Melbourne Beach Commissioner
- Joyce Barton won with 51.22% of the vote against Paul Carlson and Gail Gowdy.
- Palm Bay Mayor
- Rob Medina won with 54.17% of the vote against Kay Maragh.
- Palm Bay City Council – Seat 2
- Donny Jean Felix won with 51.91% of the vote against Peter Filiberto.
- Palm Bay City Council – Seat 3
- Randy Foster won with 60.80% of the vote against Thomas Guame Jr.
- Satellite Beach Mayor
- Steven Osmer won with 69.31% of the vote against Justice Rivera.
- Satellite Beach City Council – 2 seats
- Mindy Gibson (Incumbent) (36.21%) and David Vigliotti (24.98%) won against Brett Gelbert and Devon Vann.
- West Melbourne City Council – 3 seats
- Pat Bentley (Incumbent) (32.23%), Stephen Phrampus (26.66%) and Daniel McDow (24.75%) won against Matt Grigajtis.
Constitution Amendments – Citizen-led/Petition: As a reminder, each statewide constitutional amendment needs 60 percent approval to pass. Brevard County and City questions need 50 percent approval to pass.
- Amendment 1 – Citizenship Requirement to Vote in Florida Elections passed with 79.3% of the vote. This will require that only United States citizens who are at least 18 years old, permanent residents of Florida and registered to vote as provided by law shall be qualified to vote in a Florida election.
- Amendment 2 – Raising Florida’s Minimum Wage passed with 60.8% of the vote. This will increase the state minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2026 (The Melbourne Regional Chamber Board of Directors OPPOSED this amendment.)
- Amendment 3 – All Voters Vote in Primary Elections for State Legislature, Governor, and Cabinet failed with 57% of the vote. This would have established a top-two open primary system for state office (State Legislature, Governor, and Cabinet) primary elections, regardless of party affiliation.
- Amendment 4 – Voter Approval of Constitutional Amendments failed with 52.5% of the vote. This would have required voter-approved constitutional amendments to be approved by voters at two general elections.
- Amendment 5 – Limitation on Homestead Assessments passed with 74.5% of the vote. This will increase the period during which a person may transfer "Save Our Homes" benefits to a new homestead property from two years to three years.
- Amendment 6 – Ad Valorem Tax Discount for Spouses of Certain Deceased Veterans Who Had Permanent, Combat-Related Disabilities passed with 89.7% of the vote. This will allow a homestead property tax discount to be transferred to the surviving spouse of a deceased veteran.
- Brevard Public Schools – Half-Cent Sales Surtax Extension passed with 68.55% of the vote. This will extend the existing half-cent sales surtax approved by voters in 2014, to upgrade aging schools in Brevard County with critical school facility renewal projects, school security and technology modernizations that keep schools safe and conducive to learning and as per statute, shared with charter schools based on proportionate share of district enrollment. The half-cent sales tax shall be reauthorized for six years, with all expenditures monitored by an independent citizen oversight committee. (The Melbourne Regional Chamber Board of Directors SUPPORTED this referendum.)
- City of Melbourne – Economic Development Ad Valorem Tax Exemption passed with 68.14% of the vote. This will extend the authority of the City Council of the City of Melbourne be authorized to grant, pursuant to S. 3, Art. VII of the State Constitution, property tax exemptions to new businesses and expansions of existing businesses that are expected to create new, full-time jobs in the city for the next 10 years. (The Melbourne Regional Chamber Board of Directors SUPPORTED this referendum.)
Michael Ayers
President & CEO
Melbourne Regional Chamber
President & CEO
Melbourne Regional Chamber
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Why has the Ad Valorem Tax Exemption (AVT) been
successfully used by Melbourne to attract and retain high quality businesses for our community since 2000? |
