- Vero Beach Mayor Robert Brackett has placed first in a straw poll in the race for HD 34
- The poll was conducted by the Brevard County Republican Executive Committee
- Brackett faces Karen Hiltz in the August Republican primary
Vero Beach Mayor Robert Brackett has won an early straw poll in the race for Florida House District 34.
Bracket, a Republican candidate running for HD 34, announced in a press release that his campaign placed first in the Brevard Republicans straw poll for the open district. According to a campaign press release, the Brevard County Republican Executive Committee is the local Republican Party organization and conducted a straw poll for multiple candidates last week.
“I am very encouraged by this result, and it is an honor to have garnered such an outpouring of support from the community,” said Brackett. “I look forward to continuing my campaign efforts in District 34, and if elected, it will be my top priority to fiercely defend our conservative principles in Tallahassee,” Brackett said.
Brackett, 58, is a managing partner in the family-owned Edge Information Management, which conducts pre-employment background checks. He is also a local developer with the Brackett Family Limited Partnership, a property management business.
He was also elected to the Vero Beach City Council in 2019 and is currently in his second term as Mayor.
Since launching his campaign in December, Bracket has continued to stack endorsements. Those backing his bid include Public Defender Diamond Litty, Sebastian Vice Mayor Fred Jones, Indian River County Sheriff Eric Flowers, State Attorney Tom Bakkedahl, Vero Beach Police Chief David Currey, Former Vero Beach Mayor Harry Howle, Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey, Melbourne Mayor Paul Alfrey, the Firefighters and Paramedics of Indian River County, as well as a host of additional community leaders.
Brackett is vying for HD 34, which is open after incumbent Rep. Erin Grall chose not to seek re-election, and instead announced her candidacy for the newly drawn Senate District 29. He faces off against Karen Hiltz in the August Republican primary.