On January 12th, 2023, Indian River County held their annual Legislative Delegation meeting.
Legislative Delegations are public meetings that give Governmental Bodies, Organizations and local citizens the opportunity to address the State Legislators of a specific Legislative Delegation.
Indian River County’s Legislative Delegation consists of State Senator Erin Grall (R-Vero Beach) and State Representative Robert Brackett (R-Vero Beach).
Senator Grall represents Indian River, Okeechobee, Highlands, Glades Counties along with most of St. Lucie County in Florida State Senate District 29.
Representative Brackett represents Indian River County and a small part of Brevard County in Florida State House District 34.
Chairman of the Legislative Delegation was Senator Grall and Vice Chairman was Representative Brackett.
Many governmental entities, businesses/nonprofits and citizens addressed the two State Legislators about various issues related to Indian River County. The issues ranged from education to healthcare to the local environment and even law enforcement. Indian River County Supervisor of Elections Leslie Swan spoke about concerns related to an election bill in the upcoming legislative session.
The Legislative Delegation lasted a total of close to two hours.
At the end of the Legislative Delegation, the 2024 IRC Legislative Delegation Officers were selected with Representative Brackett as Chairman and Senator Grall as Vice Chairman.
The following governmental entities spoke at the IRC Legislative Delegation (linked timestamps below):
Indian River State College, Andy Treadwell, Pruitt Campus President/Dr. Terri Graham, Mueller Campus President 7:35
School District of Indian River County, Scott Bass, Deputy Superintendent 12:26
Indian River County, Michael Zito, Interim IR County Administrator 16:35
Indian River County supervisor of elections, Leslie Rossway Swan 21:31
Indian River County Sheriff’s Office, Sheriff Eric Flowers 25:20
City of Fellsmere, Mark D. Mathes, City Manager 27:21
City of Vero Beach, Mayor John Contugno/John Turner, City Attorney 29:37
City of Sebastian, Fred Jones, Mayor/Paul Carlisle, City Manager 33:47
Florida Atlantic University, Ryan Britton, Executive Director of Government Relations 37:42
Governmental Entities were given 5 minutes for their presentation.
The following Business & Nonprofits spoke at the IRC Legislative Delegation:
Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council, Terry Ann Paulo 40:58
Florida Police Chiefs Association, Chief Keith M. Touchberry, President 42:38
Indian River Neighborhood Association, Mike Johannsen 46:09
CareerSource Research Coast, Brian Bauer 49:06
Democrats of Indian River, Michael Walther, State Committeeman (William Evans, Chairman, was supposed to speak) 51:52
Treasure coast Regional League of Cities, Ed Dodd, Sebastian Councilman 54:08
Pelican Island Audubon Society, Graham Cox 58:56
Audubon Florida, Dr. David L. Cox 01:01:21
The Arc of IRC, Heather Dales 01:01:17
Children’s Home Society of Florida, Sabrina Barnes and Gerrod Miller 01:06:53
Family Care Council Area 15, Melody Hearn 01:09:54
Convention of States Florida, Troy Darling 01:14:07
Alliance for Safe Trains, Susan Mehiel 01:18:04
Moms for Liberty Indian River, FL, Jennifer Pippin 01:21:51
Florida Voice for the Unborn, Katherine Booth, APRN, ret. 01:25:34
Guardian Ad Litem, Circuit 19, Heather Parker 01:29:19
Farmworker Assoication of Florida, Jeannie Economos and Ocean Research and Conservation Association, Edie Widder, Ph.D were not present to speak at the Legislative Delegation Meeting.
Business & Nonprofit Organizations were given 3 minutes to speak.
The following individuals spoke at the IRC Legislative Delegation Meeting:
Dr. Karen Hiltz Ed.D 01:31:19
Alzheimer's Association – Mayor John Contugno 01:34:57
Paul Zelno – Chairman, Republicans For Life 01:38:42
Indian River County Fire Rescue 01:41:42
Thomas Kenny, Moms for Liberty – Indian River, FL 01:43:48
Scott Plyman 01:47:36
Lamarre Notargiacomo 01:52:33
Individuals were given three minutes to speak.
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