Brevard County Commission District 2 Republican Primary Candidates
Brevard
County Commission District 2 includes includes Kennedy Space Center, Merritt Island, Port Canaveral, Cape
Canaveral, Avon by the Sea, Cocoa Beach, Snug Harbor, portions of Cocoa,
Rockledge, and Patrick AFB.
The District 2 seat is currently held by Brevard County Commissioner Chuck Nelson who's term limit expires this year.
The Primary Election will be held on August 26, 2014
Name: Jim Barfield
Age: 60
City of Residence: Merritt Island
Occupation: CEO of Luke & Associates
Website: www.barfield2014.com
Education:
Bacheleor's degree in Environmental Health, East Tennessee State University; Masters in Public Health at the University of South Florida
What makes you the best candidate (in 300 words or less)?:
I have the experience, education and leadership skills necessary to be an effective County Commissioner. I am a successful entrepreneur and businessman. Under my leadership, my company, Luke, grew from 3 employees (2006) to 1,500 employees (2011) spread over 32 states and 3 countries. Luke’s success is due to excellent customer service at a lower price. Our price is lower because our overhead costs are low just as it should be in government. Efficient operations, planning and allocating for the future and principles such as return on investment and cost-benefit analysis are principles I will bring to the County Commission. In addition, with my Environmental Health degree and my experience working with multiple government agencies, I am prepared to take the lead in the Indian River Lagoon restoration for Brevard County. As a result, my proven experience makes me the best candidate for Brevard County Commissioner, District 2.
Age: 57
City of Residence: Merritt Island
Occupation: Retired General Contractor
Occupation: Retired General Contractor
Education:
Twenty years of continuing education in the construction industry.
Former Member Governors Construction Education Board.
Former Chair Continuing Education Board with the Building Code Administrators and Inspectors Board BCC, UCF
Merritt Island High School 1975
Experience:
Over 35 years in Real Estate Development
Licensed General Contractor 1980‐ Present
Merchant Marine Master Captain (licensed by the United States Coast Guard)
Former Chairman with Florida’s Building Code
Administrators and Inspectors Board (appointed by Governor Jeb Bush in 2001)
Former Chairmen for the Continuing Education
Committee with the Florida’s Department of Business and
Professional Regulations for the BCAIB
Former Board Member on the Governors Construction
Education Council
USGBC: U.S. Green Building Council - Member
Executive level Manager with Several Florida Business
Husband, Father and a lifelong resident of Brevard County
What makes you the best candidate (300 words or less)?
The other three candidates own businesses and are planning to keep those businesses once elected and will Part Time County Commissioners. The salary for County Commissioner is commensurate for full time employment. As I have been retired for the last 5 years and have funded my campaign myself and are owning to nobody. I will devote myself 100% to the County Commission and be available to meet with the people, anytime for any reason.
Merritt Island High School 1975
Experience:
Over 35 years in Real Estate Development
Licensed General Contractor 1980‐ Present
Merchant Marine Master Captain (licensed by the United States Coast Guard)
Former Chairman with Florida’s Building Code
Administrators and Inspectors Board (appointed by Governor Jeb Bush in 2001)
Former Chairmen for the Continuing Education
Committee with the Florida’s Department of Business and
Professional Regulations for the BCAIB
Former Board Member on the Governors Construction
Education Council
USGBC: U.S. Green Building Council - Member
Executive level Manager with Several Florida Business
Husband, Father and a lifelong resident of Brevard County
What makes you the best candidate (300 words or less)?
The other three candidates own businesses and are planning to keep those businesses once elected and will Part Time County Commissioners. The salary for County Commissioner is commensurate for full time employment. As I have been retired for the last 5 years and have funded my campaign myself and are owning to nobody. I will devote myself 100% to the County Commission and be available to meet with the people, anytime for any reason.
.jpg)
Name: Ron Taylor
Age: 66
City of Residence: Cocoa
Occupation: Retired engineer. Owner: 1st Class Storage, LLC, Merritt Island,Fl
Website: www.voteRonTaylor.com
Age: 66
City of Residence: Cocoa
Occupation: Retired engineer. Owner: 1st Class Storage, LLC, Merritt Island,Fl
Website: www.voteRonTaylor.com
Education:
BS / Ocean Engineering, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL
MS / Engineering, Environmental Studies, University of Texas, Austin, TX
MBA, Pepperdine University, Malibu, CA
BS / Ocean Engineering, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL
MS / Engineering, Environmental Studies, University of Texas, Austin, TX
MBA, Pepperdine University, Malibu, CA
Experience:
Past Senior Vice President of Engineering, ING North America, a financial services company
Past President, EntreSoft, Inc., a software engineering development company
Built 3700 Commerce Center, North Merritt Island’s premier commercial center
Environmental expertise to find viable solutions to Save the Indian River Lagoon
Business expertise to manage future growth and also maintain a family-friendly Brevard County
Hands-on experience in dealing with Brevard County Agencies from the citizen’s perspective
What makes you the best candidate (300 words or less)?
I am a small business owner and not a career politician. Recognizing this, I had a high ranking official in the county tell me I’m beholden to no one. He was right from one perspective…I’m beholden to no radical, political power hungry fringe of the Republican Party or money bag power brokers who want to control the County Commission to further their own business interests. But he was not altogether correct. I’m beholden to the new under-represented majority. I’m beholden to the regular guy and lady trying to make a good life for their family, the home owner who pays taxes and gets little in return, the small business who is trying to survive on an unfair playing field, and our elderly citizens trying to make ends meet on a fixed income.
As your Commissioner I will champion the Indian River Cleanup to create a family-friendly Brevard and a legacy for our children. I will bring my fiscally conservative values to office to keep your taxes and county budget under control. I will do whatever possible to "Axe the Train!" and preserve our Quality of Life. I will protect the gun rights of law-abiding citizens. I will insure Police and Fire Departments are well trained and equipped to keep you safe.
I will be known as the practical County Commissioner who maintains our roads, public services and infrastructure instead of funding Pork Barrel Projects and feathering your nest for a political future. For Action, not Talk, Elect Ron Taylor your County Commissioner, District 2.
I am a small business owner and not a career politician. Recognizing this, I had a high ranking official in the county tell me I’m beholden to no one. He was right from one perspective…I’m beholden to no radical, political power hungry fringe of the Republican Party or money bag power brokers who want to control the County Commission to further their own business interests. But he was not altogether correct. I’m beholden to the new under-represented majority. I’m beholden to the regular guy and lady trying to make a good life for their family, the home owner who pays taxes and gets little in return, the small business who is trying to survive on an unfair playing field, and our elderly citizens trying to make ends meet on a fixed income.
As your Commissioner I will champion the Indian River Cleanup to create a family-friendly Brevard and a legacy for our children. I will bring my fiscally conservative values to office to keep your taxes and county budget under control. I will do whatever possible to "Axe the Train!" and preserve our Quality of Life. I will protect the gun rights of law-abiding citizens. I will insure Police and Fire Departments are well trained and equipped to keep you safe.
I will be known as the practical County Commissioner who maintains our roads, public services and infrastructure instead of funding Pork Barrel Projects and feathering your nest for a political future. For Action, not Talk, Elect Ron Taylor your County Commissioner, District 2.
Name: Michael Hartman
Age: 55 years young.
City of Residence: Merritt Island (Diana Shores Subdivision).
Occupation: Real estate developer and consultant. I am self-employed as a real estate consultant and I and my partners own Concor, LLC, a real estate development company.
Website: www.ElectMichaelHartman.com
Age: 55 years young.
City of Residence: Merritt Island (Diana Shores Subdivision).
Occupation: Real estate developer and consultant. I am self-employed as a real estate consultant and I and my partners own Concor, LLC, a real estate development company.
Website: www.ElectMichaelHartman.com
Education:
I
earned a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting from Loyola College in
Baltimore (now known as Loyola University in Maryland) in 1981. I passed
all parts of the November 1981 CPA exam and was awarded Maryland CPA
license #8447 in February 1982. I keep my license active and current by
taking 40 hours of continuing professional education every year.
Experience:
I was appointed to the Board of the County Housing Authority (volunteer position) and was elected Chairman of the Board in September 2009. I served as Chairman for 5 years, and serve today as the Vice-Chairman of the Board.
What makes you the best candidate (300 words or less)?
I am the best candidate for this office because I care about our future and preserving our piece of paradise. I first fell in love with Brevard because of the recreation opportunities (the fishing and the beaches). As boaters and fishermen, my wife and I fell in love with the rivers.
I am the best candidate for this office because I care about our future and preserving our piece of paradise. I first fell in love with Brevard because of the recreation opportunities (the fishing and the beaches). As boaters and fishermen, my wife and I fell in love with the rivers.
We also love the slower-paced lifestyle after spending our first 33 years in the hectic urban environment of Baltimore and Washington, DC. I am also the best candidate because I have experience in managing a government entity and right-sizing government budgets while maintaining services.
I was elected Chairman of the County Housing Authority (HA) in September 2009. When I was appointed, the HA was almost bankrupt. So, we reorganized our departments, cut excess supervisory positions, reduced our operating budget, and INCREASED SERVICES. Today, the HA is financially stable, we are operating with the same reduced number of staff and smaller budget, and we serve 600 MORE families than we did in 2009. So I have a proven record of lowering the cost of government while increasing services. I intend to do the same cutting of the County budget and every citizen’s and businessperson’s tax bill while increasing services. A lower tax rate for everyone will attract business to Brevard, and help us to prosper while still preserving our way of life.
