Three candidates qualified to compete for two seats on the Indian River Shores Town Council in November.
Two seats are up for grabs because incumbent Vice Mayor Michael Ochsner’s term is up this fall and Councilman Richard Haverland is term-limited after nearly eight consecutive years of service.
Ochsner, who hopes to hold onto his seat, is in competition with Pebble Bay resident Brian Foley and John’s Island resident Jesse “Sam” Carroll. The two top vote-getters in the Nov. 6 election will win spots on the council.
Foley applied for appointment to the seat vacated by former mayor Brian Barefoot in April, but the council chose former councilman Tom Slater.
While Barefoot said Monday that he would be supporting Carroll and Ochsner in the contest, Slater remained diplomatic, saying Ochsner has been a good vice mayor and the two newcomers are “both excellent candidates.”
“Should be interesting on all levels,” Slater said.
Ochsner, an Estuary resident, has served the city for more than a decade. When not on council, he served on the Finance Commission, analyzing the town’s budget, which played to his experience as a long-time corporate CFO of an international sporting goods and apparel company. Ochsner has lived in the Shores for more than 13 years.
Carroll worked for 41 years as an investment representative, most of that time with Morgan Stanley. His board service includes the Oceanside Homeowners HOA, and Board of Governors of RedStick Golf Club Vero.
Carroll said he was moved to run for council after serving a year on the Town’s Police Pension Board, which he said was an “enlightening experience.”
Foley has owned property in Indian River Shores for 12 years and been a full-time resident for four years.
An attorney for the past 34 years, he retired in 2016 as Vice President and General Counsel of TriStrata Company Inc. in Princeton, N.J.
Before law school, he played professional tennis. He’s also an avid golfer and former Chairman of the Board and President of Westchester Country Club.
