Fix the ditches first: District 1 candidates run on North Brevard infrastructure

In the race for North Brevard’s seat on the Brevard County Commission, all three candidates say the same thing comes first: infrastructure. That means flooded streets, clogged storm drains, overgrown canals and roads that haven’t kept up with growth.

Republican Micah Loyd, Democrat Aldon Bookhardt and Libertarian Nathan Slusher are on the Nov. 3 ballot for District 1, which covers Titusville, Mims, Scottsmoor, Port St. John, Sharpes and parts of Cocoa.

Why it’s a two-year term

The winner won’t get a full four-year term. Commissioner Katie Delaney, who won the seat in 2024, stepped down May 2 to move out of state with her family for a job opportunity for her husband, Florida Today reported. The winner will finish her term, which runs through November 2028.

Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed former Commissioner Rita Pritchett, who held the seat for eight years, to fill it in July. She is serving as a placeholder until the election and is not one of the candidates.

Loyd won a four-way Republican primary Aug. 18 with 37.2% of the vote, ahead of Pam Avery, Stel Bailey and Rick Heffelfinger.

Micah Loyd (Republican)

Loyd is a general contractor, small business owner and Canaveral Port Authority commissioner. His campaign site says he grew up in North Brevard and built his business there. He did not answer the News Collaborative of Central Florida questionnaire published by News 6 on Oct. 16, but he spoke with Florida Today.

His site says roads, drainage, traffic flow and maintenance “must keep pace with growth and daily life,” and that county government should “focus on the basics, protect taxpayers, and deliver results residents can see and feel.” He told Florida Today that North Brevard hasn’t gotten its fair share of county infrastructure money. “It can’t all go to Viera and Palm Bay,” he said. He wants a long-term maintenance plan for aging infrastructure and earlier work with developers. “We don’t say no to development,” Loyd said. “We make sure we have quality development.”

His best-known public vote came at the port. At a March 24 workshop attended by about 100 people, most opposed to a proposed liquefied natural gas plant on port land on Merritt Island, Loyd said, “I keep hearing the word ‘small,’ but the facility here is proposed to be double the size of the one in Jacksonville.” The next day, on his motion, the board voted unanimously to reject the offer from Chesapeake Utilities and BHE GT&S and to declare the parcel “a strategic port property” that should not be sold, Central Florida Public Media reported. His campaign says he led that effort “to protect our families and our lagoon.”

Aldon Bookhardt (Democrat)

Bookhardt runs Tootie’s Grocery in Mims and is a general contractor. He was the only District 1 candidate who answered the News Collaborative questionnaire.

His campaign site says he would hold county department heads accountable “for getting the job done—whether that means fixing potholes, cleaning drainage ditches, or maintaining easements across District One.” He told Florida Today that stormwater and sewage are the district’s biggest problems and that local government should pay when its failures cause flooding. “If county negligence creates the problem that leads to flooding, then we should be liable for that,” he said. In the voter guide, he proposed solar-powered street lights, more grants and developer incentives for affordable single-family homes, and less red tape for tiny homes.

“I’m a no for any data center in Brevard County period,” he told the guide. He named pollution of the Indian River Lagoon as the top environmental issue.

Nathan Slusher (Libertarian)

Slusher is a Titusville small business owner and Titusville High School graduate who also ran for the seat in 2024. He did not answer the voter guide’s questionnaire; the guide drew on his website and a candidate forum instead. He spoke with Florida Today.

His site calls infrastructure “the #1 reason for running”: “From storm drains to potholes, from overgrown canals to sewage pipes.” It pledges to “Vote No on all new development, until the surrounding infrastructure is repaired and functioning appropriately,” and says the short term means making “the absolute biggest impact we can.” He told Florida Today the county isn’t doing basics like clearing storm drains. “The idea of fixing the infrastructure has been turned into a campaign slogan rather than actually fixing it,” he said. At a Brevard County Republicans forum, he said he does not support data centers, according to the guide.

Where they stand on Amendment 3

Amendment 3 on the statewide ballot would raise the homestead exemption on non-school property taxes to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028. It needs 60% to pass. The three candidates differ on it, according to Florida Today and the voter guide:

• Loyd did not take a firm position. He called it a mix of pros and cons that would force the county to rethink its budget. “Our county is very lean,” he said.

• Bookhardt opposes it. He told the guide the relief “is not targeted to those who need it most” and would lead to cuts such as road maintenance.

• Slusher supports it and said he is the only candidate in the race who actively does. His site says “Protecting The Tax Cap is the absolute bare minimum any candidate should be doing.”

Campaign money

According to campaign finance reports filed with the Supervisor of Elections, as summarized by Florida Today:

• Loyd: $64,150 in cash contributions plus $8,975 in in-kind support; about $60,986 spent.

• Bookhardt: $8,600 raised plus about $553 in-kind; about $7,133 spent.

• Slusher: $3,540 raised plus about $919 in-kind; about $4,262 spent.

How to vote

Early voting runs through Saturday, Oct. 31, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends. Voters may use any early voting site in Brevard, according to the Supervisor of Elections.

The deadline to request a mail ballot is Thursday, Oct. 22, at 5 p.m. On Election Day, Nov. 3, voters must go to their own precinct’s polling place. Only voters who live in District 1 will see this race on their ballot.

321 Daily does not endorse candidates. Candidates were not contacted for this story; their positions come from their campaign websites, the News Collaborative voter guide, Florida Today interviews and public records.