Brevard's redrawn House District 34 race attracts 3 Indian River Republican candidates to primary
Brevard County voters who live south of Palm Bay and Malabar will get a new Florida House representative in a redrawn district — and all three candidates live in Indian River County.
The Aug. 23 Republican primary election for House District 34 will pit Vero Beach Mayor Robbie Brackett against Karen Hiltz, a Sebastian resident of three years who has federal government and school board experience in Virginia.
The GOP winner will face Democrat Karen Greb of Sebastian in the Nov. 8 election to represent the new district, which includes Indian River County and southernmost Brevard County.
House District 34 now extends southward off the east side of Babcock Street, generally extending from Valkaria Airport to the St. Sebastian River. The district, which encompasses Barefoot Bay and Micco, also includes portions of southern Palm Bay near the Interstate 95 St. Johns Heritage Parkway interchange.
Today, this area is included within House District 53, which is represented by Florida Rep. Randy Fine, R-Palm Bay. There is no incumbent in the House District 34 race.
Brackett's Space Coast endorsements include Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey and Melbourne Mayor Paul Alfrey, according to his campaign website.
Hiltz's Space Coast endorsements include Brevard County Commissioner Curt Smith, Conservative Club of Barefoot Bay President Bob Schmidt and Laurence Sanford, president of the Association of Former Intelligence Officers' Satellite chapter, according to her campaign website.
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Representing Brevard voters
Brackett said he works at Edge Information Management's Melbourne office, where he is a managing partner, a couple days per week. His wife, Samantha, was living in Palm Bay when they met.
"They've got some future development stuff probably happening out there where they're wanting to limit the density level," Brackett said of residents in and near Micco, Grant-Valkaria and Barefoot Bay.
"They like their little commercial fishing area right there. They like the lifestyle they have there, and I don't blame them. The other big thing for that area right there is the lagoon," he said.
Hiltz, a retiree who ended her career as head of procurement for the U.S. Capitol Police, said Space Coast voters' concerns are very similar to those shared by her Indian River County constituents.
"They are concerned about infrastructure. They're concerned about the lagoon. They're concerned about water quality. They're concerned about their gun rights. They're concerned about the education that their children are getting today. And the list goes on," Hiltz said.
"I don't like to look at it as differentiating between Brevard and Indian River County in District 34. It will be communicating and being available to them, just as I am to Sebastian and Vero Beach and Fellsmere," she said.
Education has been critical state issue in Florida
The winner of the November race will join the Legislature after a year in which lawmakers made pronounced decisions regarding the state's education system.
Last year, Florida Rep. Erin Grall, a Vero Beach Republican who previously represented Indian River County, sponsored the Parents' Bill of Rights, which reads "the state, its political subdivisions, any other governmental entity, or other institution may not infringe upon the fundamental rights of a parent to direct the upbringing, education, health care, and mental health of a minor child."
Brackett and Hiltz echoed the classic phrase "reading, writing and arithmetic" to express their support for the law and what they see as the priorities they want teachers and administrators to pursue at schools.
"Parents are the authority," Hiltz said. "They bring the children into the world. Some parents are more involved than others, but the education system is not the authority of the children."
The Legislature also passed laws restricting how race relations are taught in schools, including a ban on critical race theory, and a prohibition on instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity in kindergarten through third grade. Critics have dubbed the latter the "Don't Say Gay" bill and roused vocal opposition to it.
"The school district can't decide they will be co-parents," Brackett said.
The next step with those laws is to ensure they're applied properly, Hiltz said. She served as a school board member three times in Virginia, including a public school system, a private school and a community college.
"Legislation is just the start," she said of the new laws. "We need to coordinate with the Department of Education to make sure school boards are complying. When they are not, there needs to be consequences."
Indian River Lagoon water quality pro
The Indian River Lagoon's deteriorating water quality, which has led to massive seagrass habitat loss and record manatee die-off, is another issue in the district.
"I grew up fishing and skiing on that lagoon," Brackett said.
He praised Vero Beach's efforts to reduce water pollution and said the key is creating effective partnerships between the state and municipalities.
"We can't go in different directions," he said. "We need to be doing it together and we need to be innovative."
Hiltz said she also would seek that level of coordination and wants to find ways to bring tax dollars back to the region to help care for the lagoon.
"Everyone wants clean water," she said. "It's common sense: You don't throw your trash in the lagoon. We need it to survive."
Campaign finances
In fundraising for his campaign, Brackett had eclipsed Hiltz as of July 22, according to state election records. Bracket reported $128,100 in contributions, $6,024 in-kind donations and $5,000 in loans from himself. He had spent $61,278 as of that date.
Hiltz collected $26,350 in contributions and $740 in in-kind donations by July 22, and she had spent $38,999 on her campaign. She took out a $50,000 loan in February at the start of her campaign, and her husband, Chuck, added a $30,000 loan on July 5.
Brackett is a managing partner in the family-owned Edge Information Management, which conducts employee background checks. He also helps in the family's property- management business, the Brackett Family Limited Partnership.
Hiltz's doctorate is in education for the Leadership Studies degree she earned at Lynchburg College in Virginia. The Navy veteran spent 25 years in Federal Acquisition and Procurement, and later served as head of procurement with the U.S. Capitol Police.
Florida House District 34
Election: The winner of the Aug. 23 Republican primary will face Democrat Karen Greb of Sebastian in the Nov. 8 general election.
Voters: Registered Republicans who live in Florida House District 34, comprising Indian River County and a portion of southern Brevard County.
Term: Two years, beginning immediately after the election.
Salary: $29,697.
Rick Neale is the South Brevard Watchdog Reporter at FLORIDA TODAY (for more of his stories, click here.) Contact Neale at 321-242-3638 or rneale@floridatoday.com. Twitter: @RickNeale1
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This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Florida House District 34 race draws 3 Indian River County candidates
