Three candidates compete for Titusville mayoral seat, as incumbent Diesel runs for commission
Three candidates are facing off to become the next mayor of Titusville, with incumbent Mayor Dan Diesel stepping aside to run for Brevard County Commission.
Current City Council member Joe Robinson, Vickie Conklin and Andrew Connors are vying to take over as mayor after the November election. The race would go to a Nov. 5 runoff if no candidate wins more than 50% of the vote after the Aug. 20 primary.
Titusville's mayoral salary currently is $15,038.40 a year, and terms are four years, with no term limits.
The election is nonpartisan, meaning the candidates' political party affiliations do not appear on the ballot.
Titusville is Brevard County's third-most-populous city, behind Palm Bay and Melbourne, with a population of about 50,000.
Conklin on the issues in Titusville
Everything about the elections: Here's your ultimate voter guide to 2024 elections, candidates, issues in Brevard County
Conklin is running for office for the first time in Florida, hoping to bring change to Titusville. Conklin, while new to Titusville politics, is not new to local government.
Conklin served on both the city council and as mayor in her hometown of Wentzville, Missouri. She is campaigning on a platform of supporting the right to clean water and preventing further contamination of the Indian River Lagoon. In 2022, Titusville voters approved a ballot measure to guarantee a right to clean water in the city. The City Council has yet to codify the results of that election, and currently is fighting it in court. Diesel has reversed course on the measure and voted to adopt the ballot initiative, while the council as a whole maintains that it makes the city too liable for lagoon pollution for which it is not entirely responsible.
Conklin also said she wants to increase water and sewage treatment capacity and facilitate small-business growth across the city.
"We need to reduce the amount of stormwater going into the lagoon, as well as replace aging sewer pipes to prevent sewage spills," Conklin said.
Connors on the issues in Titusville
Connors also put "attainable housing," water quality and infrastructure as major issues in his platform.
"Through improved housing, water quality and infrastructure, Titusville will continue to be a place that myself, my kids and the greater community can all be proud to call home," Connors wrote in a campaign statement, adding that he wants to “bring his passion for service, leadership experience and dedication to collaborative problem-solving to the forefront of local governance.”
Connors said he will work to replace aging infrastructure, including the city's freshwater wells, and address septic systems that leak nitrogen and other harmful nutrients into the Indian River Lagoon.
Robinson on the issues in Titusville
Robinson said among his biggest concerns for the future of Titusville is the water quality and wanting to ensure the impact of new development does not negatively impact Titusville's public water quality or availability. "We also need to make sure taxes are kept manageable, compared to the cost of living. We need growth, but we've entered a new era," Robinson said. "As mayor, I'll listen to all sides and do my homework, and come up with win-win solutions for the problems affecting Titusville."
A 24-year military veteran, Robinson has served on the Titusville City Council since 2020.
He sees it as his job as a city leader and potential mayor to "grow Titusville responsibly, empower the elderly and disadvantaged, and strengthen the Indian River Lagoon."
Campaign finances
Conklin: She has raised a total of $16,450, which includes $13,500 in loans she's given her own campaign. Of that, Conklin has spent $13,488.16.
Connors: He had the most raised leading into primary day with $21,950, the bulk of which came from $15,000 Connors gave to his own campaign. His other leading contributors included the Realtors Political Advocacy Committee, a PAC formed by the National Association of Realtors that supports pro-Realtor candidates across the country. Connors' campaign has spent a total of $18,066.91.
Robinson: His campaign has raised a total of $7,650.09 and spent $6,266.78. Robinson's donors include current Titusville City Councilwoman Jo Lynn Nelson and developer and former County Commissioner Robin Fisher. Of the three candidates, Robinson is the only one who has not loaned a significant amount of money to his own campaign.
More on the candidates
Vickie Conklin
Age: 71
Occupation: Retired registered nurse, educator and administrator
Education: Bachelor of Science in nursing; Master of Science
Political/government/civic experience: President of Royal Oak Neighbors LLC; mayor, city of Wentzville, Missouri (elected four terms); alderman, city of Wentzville, Missouri (elected two terms); member, Parks & Recreation Board (two years)
Campaign email: [email protected]
Campaign phone number: 314-614-0999
Website: vickieformayor.com
Andrew Connors
Age: 35
Occupation: President of Atlantic Enrollment Solutions
Education: Bachelor's degree from Bowling Green State University
Political/government/civic experience: Board of directors, Titusville YMCA; Board member Titusville Chamber of Commerce
Campaign email: [email protected]
Website: voteandrewconnors.com
Joe Robinson
Age: 72
Occupation: Pastor of Antioch Christian Fellowship Baptist Church and chief executive officer of North Brevard Charities Sharing Center.
Education: Degree in business management/psychology; advance studies in government procurement and contracting; advance studies in naval engineering and system design.
Political/government/civic experience: Titusville City Council; 24 years of active-duty service in U.S. Coast Guard; chair of Brevard County Housing Authority; chair of City of Cocoa Housing Authority; chair of Titusville Affordable Housing Committee.
Campaign email: [email protected]
Website: joerobinsonformayor.com
Tyler Vazquez is the Brevard County and North Brevard Watchdog Reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Vazquez at 321-480-0854 or [email protected]
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Three candidates compete for Titusville mayoral seat in 2024 election
