Steve Burdett Withdraws From Brevard County Clerk Of Court Race

Scott Ellis and Trudie Infantini are the only remaining Republican candidates in the Clerk's race.

BREVARD COUNTY, Florida - Steve Burdett, a candidate in the Republican primary for Brevard County Clerk of Court, withdrew as a candidate today after qualifying as a candidate just last week, according to Brevard County Supervisor of Elections' records.

His withdrawal comes on the heels of allegations made by Brevard County Commissioner Trudie Infaniti that Burdett would have to either resign his current position at the Clerk's Office or withdraw from the race under Florida's "Resign to Run" law.

Under the law, a subordinate cannot run against his or her boss in the same election.  
The legal requirement became an issue after Burdett's boss, Brevard County Clerk of Court Scott Ellis, announced in May that he would seek re-election.

"I have decided to leave the race for Brevard County Clerk of the Circuit Court," Burdett wrote on his Facebook page today. "Thank you to everyone that helped us in the campaign!"

After Burdett's withdrawal, only Ellis and Infantini remain in the Republican primary race. The primary winner will then face former Cocoa Beach Mayor Dave Netterstrom in the general election. 

"I read the law correctly and they understood one of them had to get out of the race or leave their position," Infantini said of Burdett's withdrawal. "It is too bad for Steve that he didn't know that Scott was going to get in the race before he worked so hard to get all those petitions signed."


“It was Steve’s choice to withdraw, I’d not stop anyone from running,” said Ellis.