Palm Bay Mayor Rob Medina faces three challengers in a city facing issue of urban sprawl
Who's next at the helm of Palm Bay ― the Space Coast's largest city (population 140,000) ― will have to grapple with growth that some in the city see as moving in the right direction and others say has made the city Florida's poster child for urban sprawl.
There's plenty of traffic, car washes and Dollar Stores. But there's also large "capital influx" from L3Harris and Rogue Valley Microdevices, as incumbent Mayor Rob Medina touts. Rolling forward, though, some in the city say they're hoping for more economic diversity that will include cleaner water, fewer potholes and safer neighborhoods to raise children.
But three challengers running against him — Edith Rivera, Tatiana Rosado and Santa Isabel Wright — think they can do better, with more "transparency" and "accountability." Those are the two political buzzwords each candidate is using, as they face off in the Aug. 20 primary.
The race is nonpartisan. But Palm Bay's past corruption and current controversies echo the animosities of deep partisan divides.
Palm Bay has been struggling for decades to figure out how to pay for all the road work, water and sewer hookups, and the other infrastructure needed to keep pace. Some see the city as creating a "free-for-all" for development.
Then there's the issue of what to do about "the Compound," a 12-square-mile undeveloped section of city-owned land that's become a hot spot for crime, even murders.
If a candidate wins more than 50% of the primary vote, they're the next mayor. If not, the top two finishers will advance to a Nov. 5 general-election runoff, and whoever gets more votes then wins.
Here's the four candidates and where they stand, in a nutshell:
Mayor Rob Medina, 63, director of community and military relations for U.S. Rep. Bill Posey, points to his tenure of improving business opportunities. He emphasizes transparency, accountability, improving environmental infrastructure and protecting water supply.
Edith Rivera, 70, a retired real estate broker associate, also emphasizes transparency. She points to the need for more government accountability, protection of water supply and more pollution control.
Tatiana Rosado, 36, an aerospace and defense procurement manager, stresses the need for increased police protection, especially in an area of the city called "the Compound," where crime has run rampant in recent years.
Santa Isabel Wright, 58, self-employed, says she'd work to improve infrastructure, the "backbone of any successful city," and to obtain state and federal funding to ease expenses on city residents. She'd also prioritize revitalizing the downtown and work to recruit businesses.
The salary for mayor is $25,443 a year, and the position carries a four-year term.
More: Compound became hotspot for crime How we got here: Story of Compound killings was reported over many twists, turns
Campaign cash and/or notable endorsements
Medina: $48,498 in contributions and $21,558 spent (through July 26). Medina lists among his endorsements: U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio; Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey; State Attorney Phil Archer; Florida Reps. Robert Brackett and Randy Fine; former Florida Sen. President Mike Haridopolos; former Speaker of the Florida House Steve Crisafulli; Brevard County Tax Collector Lisa Cullen; and Brevard School Board member Katye Campbell. He's also gained support from the Palm Bay Police Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 111; Palm Bay Firefighter International Association of Fire Fighters Local 2446; and the Space Coast Board of Realtors.
Rivera: $2,450 in contributions and $2,229 spent (through July 12).
Rosado: $3,782 in contributions and $3,238 spent (through July 12).
Wright: $1,380 in contributions and $468 spent (through July 19). She lists Florida Sen. Linda Stewart and Borinquen Party among her endorsements.
More: Palm Bay seat remains empty 'The Lord directed me not to come': Palm Bay mayor skips meetings, no council member appointed
Where Mayor Medina stands on the issues
FLORIDA TODAY asked each candidate, via an emailed questionnaire, what they think are the top issues in the community and what specific actions they'd take to address them. Medina was the only one who did not respond, after multiple requests.
But, on his most recent State of the City address, posted on his campaign website, he emphasizes the collective efforts of the City Council and employees in upholding values such as "accountability, integrity and transparency."
"Economic prosperity continues to be a focal point," Medina's campaign site says, "with the city attracting major investments from companies like L3Harris Technologies and Rogue Valley Microdevices, leading to job creation and substantial private capital influx."
He also touted the city’s economic-development team that worked "to foster commercial development, ultimately benefiting the local economy through job creation and an increased tax base."
Medina also points to major infrastructure projects: $150 million road-paving initiative and stormwater system enhancements; widening of St. John’s Heritage Parkway and improvements at its intersections; construction of new fire stations; and expansion of water-treatment facilities.
Empty-seat stirs controversy
Medina's tenure hasn't drawn much drama. But last year, saying "the Lord directed me not to come," Medina drew some controversy when he missed three straight City Council meetings, and declined to help appoint a replacement for former Councilman Peter Filiberto, who resigned his Seat 5 post after a high-profile arrest.
"To those of you who called me a coward, I condemn those words. Matter of fact, I cast them down to the depths of hell, where they belong," Medina said at the time.
Filiberto resigned on Feb. 17, 2023, after his arrest. In March 2023, he pleaded no contest to possession of cocaine and DUI. He was sentenced to two years of supervised probation with the Florida Department of Corrections.
Now, he's running for City Council, again, for Seat 3.
A 60-day window for the Palm Bay City Council to appoint a new Seat 5 member to replace Filiberto expired. An outside legal opinion concluded the five-member council can operate with only four members until November 2024.
Per city charter, special elections to fill vacancies run concurrent with regularly scheduled city elections. So the seat remains vacant until after the Nov. 5 election.
What Medina opponents think main issues are, and what they'd do
Here's how Medina's opponents see the top issues facing the city and what they'd do to address them:
Edith Rivera
"In Palm Bay, the top issues are government transparency and environmental infrastructure.
"First, I will advocate for clear, open communication between officials and residents, reversing actions like the dissolution of the Citizens’ Committee and disregarding voter decisions on officer pay. Transparency must be restored to ensure accountability and public trust.
"Second, I will prioritize protecting our environment by ensuring growth does not harm our water supply, waste management, or wildlife.
"As mayor, I will be actively involved in monitoring city developments to balance progress with environmental stewardship."
Tatiana Rosado
"The Compound has unfortunately become a hot spot for criminal activities, with several bodies discovered within a short span of time. To combat this, suggestions like increased police security checks and regular patrols have been proposed. Regulating access to privately owned lots situated on public roads is crucial to maintaining order and safety in the area. Clearing the overgrown vegetation is essential for enhancing visibility and security in the Compound.
"Engaging with property owners to explore the possibility of selling their land could be a key step towards revitalizing the area. With some experts highlighting the potential of the Compound, ideas to divide the land for mixed-use development have emerged. Suggestions include converting it into an industrial park or opportunity zone to attract investors.
"In addition to these issues, implementing thorough impact assessments for new development projects is vital. These evaluations should consider the strain on existing infrastructure and facilitate the planning of necessary upgrades beforehand. Prioritizing infrastructure enhancements based on long-term community needs, exploring public-private partnerships, and implementing a strategic growth management policy can also contribute to sustainable development.
"Moreover, the creation of a downtown area could stimulate job opportunities and provide residents with a recreational hub. By addressing these challenges and implementing strategic solutions, Palm Bay can transform the Compound into a thriving and vibrant community."
Santa Isabel Wright
"Infrastructure is the backbone of any successful city, and Palm Bay is no exception. I will work with state and federal officials to obtain funding to alleviate expenses for our residents, from increasing street lighting to continuing with road repairs and assuring that our residents are not billed for sewer system transition.
"I want to address the issue of our downtown area for Palm Bay. Our residents deserve a vibrant and thriving downtown that serves as the heart of our community. As your mayor, I will prioritize revitalizing our downtown, attracting businesses, restaurants and cultural amenities that will bring people together and create economic opportunities for our residents.
"My vision for our city is one of progress, inclusivity and prosperity for all. I will be engaged and hands-on to assure we recruit businesses and increase jobs and security for our residents."
Contact Waymer at 321-261-5903 or [email protected]. Follow him on X/Twitter at @JWayEnviro.
Who are the Palm Bay mayor candidates?
Rob Medina
Age: 63 Occupation: Director of military relations for U.S. Rep. Bill Posey
Education: Masters of theology
Political/government/civic experience: Mayor of Palm Bay; U.S. Marines; U.S. House of Representatives; director of ministry, The House Church; Little League and youth football CoachCampaign email: [email protected]
Campaign phone number: 321-508-7472
Website or Facebook page: https://robmedinaforpbmayor.com/
Edith M. Rivera
Age: 70
Occupation: Realtor broker associate; retired food and nutrition director.
Education: University of Florida, nutrition and management
Political/government/ civil experience: Brevard Job Link; poll worker; active church member, deacon.
Campaign e-mail: [email protected]
Campaign phone number: 321-704-3519
Website or Facebook page: Edith Rivera Facebook
Tatiana Rosado
Age: 36
Occupation: New business aerospace and defense procurement manager
Education: Bachelor’s in interpersonal/organizational communications from University of Central Florida; Master of Business Administration from Webster University; master's in information technology and management from Webster University
Political/government/civic experience: League of Women Voters, League of Cities, Brevard Democrats, Democratic Women’s Club
Campaign email: [email protected]
Campaign phone number: (321) 616-2524
Website or Facebook page: TatianaRosado.com
Santa Isabel Wright
Age: 58
Occupation: Self-employed
Education: Graduate of Bryman College with a degree in health care administration; has held certifications in utilization management, medical coding, medical assistant, phlebotomy, paralegal, notary and immigration programs
Political/government/civic experience: Former chair, Enterprise Zone Development Agency in Palm Bay; vice chair, Community Advisory Board; brought the First Coffee with Cops to Palm Bay and to Brevard; former board member of the PAL program in Palm Bay; procured COVID-19 vaccines for Palm Bay employees and residents at the request of City Council; current president of the Florida Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and United Coalition Council; director of governmental affairs for the Puerto Rican Heritage Network; former president, Florida Puerto Rican Hispanic Chamber of Commerce; past vice president of UTB, United Third Bridge; past member, Interfaith Coalition, Florida Puerto Rican Hispanic Empowerment Committee; past chair of the 500 Year Anniversary of the Discovery of Florida Committee; past chair of the Juan Ponce De Leon Park Committee; managing editor of the newsletter, “The Latin Buzz” published in Hometown News.Campaign email: [email protected]
Campaign phone Number: 321-482-7006
Website or Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/santaisabelwright
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Palm Bay Mayor Rob Medina faces three challengers
