Current, former state legislators face off in GOP primary for County Commission seat
Brevard County Commission District 5 will see a primary race between two Republicans long active Florida politics.
Florida Rep. Thad Altman, who has served in both the Florida House and Senate, is no stranger to the County Commission, either, representing District 5 from 1984 to 1992. Altman currently represents District 32 in the Florida House of Representatives, but cannot seek reelection to that seat because of term limits.
Ritch Workman, who is also vying for the County Commission seat, succeeded Altman for a seat in the Florida House of Representatives in 2008, when Altman moved on to the Florida Senate.
This won't be the first time the two have faced each other in a Republican primary. In 2003, Altman won a special election for a House seat over Workman and four other competitors.
Now, they are both hoping to represent County Commission District 5, which includes much of Melbourne, Palm Bay and Indialantic.
The winner of the Aug. 20 Republican primary will go on to face the Democratic candidate, Vinnie Taranto Jr., in the Nov. 5 general election.
Steele not running to keep seat
District 5 is currently represented by Jason Steele, who was appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis in 2023 to fill a vacancy left by former Commissioner Kristine Zonka, who stepped down after being hired to lead the Florida Department of Health in Brevard County.
Steele is finishing out the appointed term, and currently is the chair of the County Commission, but is not running to keep the seat.
The current salary for Brevard County commissioners is $60,272.98, and they serve four-year terms. There also will be elections this year in County Commission Districts 1 and 3.
Workman came under fire in 2017 when a fellow lawmaker accused him of making vulgar comments and accosting her at a charity event the year before. That incident prompted Workman to withdraw himself from consideration for a seat on the Florida Public Service Commission.
Workman at the time said he did not recall engaging in any inappropriate behavior, and apologized for the incident.
Where do candidates stand on local issues?
“We have an infrastructure issue facing us,” Workman said. “We survive on our development. But in order to make sure that blends with the Brevard County lifestyle, we have to make sure that infrastructure is a priority above development."
Workman added that “our lifestyle here revolves around our waterways. We have to make sure we spend every dollar wisely on the betterment of the county, and the protection and preservation of our lagoon."On tax and spending matters, Workman said: "We need to make sure that our tax dollars are spent on public safety and preservation first. Every dollar is accounted for. It’s not money from the sky. It’s money from our neighbors, and it should be spent on first responders, infrastructure and the lagoon.”
Altman echoed many of Workman's thoughts on the challenge of balancing growth and infrastructure management.
"We need to look at managing our growth, and the County Commission plays such a key role in growth management, planning, development and infrastructure," Altman said. "Quality-of-life issues are so important for the growth and quality of life in the community. It's important that we direct planning in a systematic and reasonable way to balance it with infrastructure, which includes our water, sewer and roads."
Altman also emphasized using tax incentives and other strategies to continue to attract businesses to create jobs on the Space Coast.
"It's important that we promote good, high-quality industry," Altman said. "We're blessed to be one of the leading aerospace communities in the world and the leading launch center in the world. We need to ensure that we continue to attract good, high-paying jobs to the area."
Campaign finances, endorsements
Leading into primary day, Altman has outraised and outspent Workman.
In total, Altman had raised $34,795.24 and spent $30,180.69. Altman's campaign funds included a $3,000 loan he had given to his own campaign.
Among Altman's contributors are lobbyists Ronald Book and Guy Spearman III; Capital Advocacy Group; Florida Citrus Mutual; Rubin, Turnbull & Associates; Local Home Builders PAC; Realtors Political Advocacy Committee; Realtors Political Activity Committee; and Realtors Political Action Committee.
Workman has raised $18,840 and spent $12,115.88. Workman's campaign contributions included a $3,620 loan he'd given to his own campaign. He later repaid himself for the loan out of the other money raised in the campaign.
Among Workman's contributors are County Commissioner Rob Feltner; Pubic Defender Blaise Trettis; lobbyist Guy Spearman; ABC PAC; Canaveral Pilots Association; Florida Leadership Committee.
Altman has been endorsed by Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey, Business Voice of Florida’s Space Coast, the Police Benevolent Association and the Florida Medical Association.
Thad Altman
Where do you live? Indialantic
Age: 68
Occupation: Executive director at Astronauts Memorial Foundation
Education: Bachelor of Science, Rollins College
Political/government/civic experience: Brevard County commissioner, 1984 to 1992; Florida House of Representatives 2003 to 2008; Florida Senate, 2008 to 2016; Florida House of Representatives, 2016 to present.
Campaign email: [email protected]
Website or Facebook page: ThadAltman.com
Ritch Workman
Where do you live? Unincorporated Brevard
Age: 51
Occupation: Schoolteacher
Education: Bachelor of Science, The Appalachian State University
Political/government/civic experience: Florida House of Representatives, 2008 to 2016
Website or Facebook page:
Website: voteworkman.us
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ritch.workman.for.county.commission
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Altman, Workman compete for District 5 Brevard County Commission seat
