While politicians typically attend a lot of parades, last Friday they were the ones on parade during Politicos on Parade, the biannual fundraiser for the League of Women Voters (LWV) of the Space Coast.
Local government officials put their best fashion foot forward as they modeled a variety of styles for attendees who gathered at Indian River Colony Club in Viera for the countywide event.
Barbara Williams, LWV of the Space Coast president, said they’ve hosted the show for more than 10 years as a way to introduce newly elected officials to the community.
Palm Bay City Councilman Kenny Johnson and City of Cocoa District 1 Councilman James Alex Goins were dressed in garments from Men’s Wearhouse, selected with the help of wardrobe consultant Samone Archer.
“Anytime we can be involved in the community, we should be,” Johnson said. “I enjoyed the experience.”
Bobbi Whitmore, owner of Bobbi’s at Parkside, provided fashions from her Cocoa Village boutique for the ladies, who included: Misty Belford, School Board, District 1; Robyn Hattaway, Canaveral Port Authority, District 5; Loraine Koss, City of Cocoa, District 4; and Heidi Salmon, mayor of Melbourne Village.
Whitmore said she was happy to assist an organization she greatly admires.
“It’s humbling to be in the presence of so many accomplished and prestigious women,” Whitmore said. “They are women who saw a need in our community and stepped up to take it on.”
Originally founded in 1920, the League of Women Voters was created to help women become educated and responsible with their newly obtained right to vote.
Nearly 100 years later, the league is still going strong and serves as a powerful voice in local and national government. In 1973, men became eligible to join. Currently, Florida has 29 local leagues. The roots of the Space Coast league go back to 1948 when the League of Women Voters of Cocoa formed. Other leagues formed in south Brevard, and eventually, in 1979, they all banded together to form LWV of the Space Coast.
Through education and advocacy, the bipartisan league works to mentor future leaders in the community, promote citizen involvement and provide programs to keep voters informed.
