Four candidates are competing for incumbent District 2 Commissioner Joe Flescher’s seat as he prepares to retire in November following two decades of public service in Indian River County.
The candidates vying for the open seat – which covers Gifford and Sebastian – recently participated in forums discussing key issues, including the controversial homestead exemption outlined in Amendment 3, along with the unfinished Gifford Neighborhood Plan.
Bob McPartlan, Sebastian’s vice-mayor, Jennifer Pippin, a Moms for Liberty founding chapter chair, Brooks Robinson, a businessman and attorney, along with Robbie Hardingham, a truck driver and army veteran, are running for the seat. McPartlan has served on the Sebastian City Council for the past 15 years, while this will be a first campaign run for newcomers Pippin, Robinson and Hardingham.
All four candidates spoke at community forums hosted by the Indian River County NAACP, Let’s Talk Vero and the Taxpayers Association of Indian River County, ahead of the Primary Election.
Flescher, a four-term commissioner for District 2, endorsed McPartlan to take the seat. In a Facebook video, Flescher said McPartlan “will do the best job for the citizens of Indian River County.”
“I’m honored Flescher endorsed me,” McPartlan said. “He has a lot of institutional knowledge.”
Primary race
The District 2 race is a closed primary. Early voting runs from Saturday, Aug. 8 to Saturday, August 15.
McPartlan, Pippin and Robinson, all Republicans, will run in the Aug. 18 primary. Since Hardingham is the only Democrat in the race, his name will appear on the general ballot for the Nov. 3 election, where he will face the winner of the Republican primary.
Stance on Amendment 3
Amendment 3 – which voters will decide on during the general election – aims to raise the homestead exemption and eliminate non-school property taxes on residences.
But, Amendment 3 has already come under fire by residents who say the tax reform bill will cause billions in statewide cuts to essential services such as childcare, busing and emergency preparedness and management.
McPartlan, Robinson and Hardingham all oppose Amendment 3, while Pippin supports the proposed amendment. McPartlan said the legislation could cause cuts to local health, veterans and youth programs.
“Indian River County will take a huge hit. Sebastian will take a huge hit,” McPartlan said. “There’s no backup plan if it doesn’t work. If we come up short, we’ll have to go to Tallahassee and beg.”
Robinson said he believes all residents deserve tax relief, but noted Amendment 3 does not deliver on this promise. Robinson added that those with homesteaded properties will see property taxable values go down, while there will be no tax relief for people living in multi-family or residential non-homesteaded properties.
“Practically, many local municipalities will seek to make up the tax revenue by imposing non-ad-valorem tax, user fees, and other assessments that, because they are not tied to property values, will disproportionately affect those with lower or fixed incomes,” Robinson said.
Hardingham said he’s against Amendment 3 because it will defund public services including police departments, emergency medical services, fire rescue, parks and recreation and the Go-Line bus.
Pippin contends that Amendment 3 will provide meaningful tax relief to families, seniors on fixed incomes and working residents. Pippin noted that the proposed legislation would increase homestead tax protections for Florida homeowners, provide additional safeguards against excessive property tax increases and help keep homeownership affordable for residents.
“Taxpayers deserve accountability, transparency, and responsible budgeting before the government asks for more of their hard-earned money,” Pippin said. “I support efforts to provide property tax relief while ensuring that local governments focus on core services such as public safety, infrastructure, and protecting our quality of life.”
In a recent forum, each candidate was asked if they would support mandatory cuts to child services if Amendment 3 passes. McPartlan and Hardingham opposed axing funding to child services, while Pippin supported it, saying there are other nonprofit organizations that provide services without using taxpayer dollars.
Robinson did not give a definitive “yes” or “no,” but said the county would have to do a full review of all spending and prioritize essential services.
“I fear many services may be affected, even those groups like Healthy Start that are providing real value to the community,” Robinson said. “It’ll be hard to maintain any Children Services Advisory Committee spending.”
State organizations sound off on Amendment 3
Public safety organizations including the Florida Sheriff’s Association and the Florida Fire Chief’s Association, oppose Amendment 3, noting that the property tax reform bill puts the funding of first responders’ services in jeopardy.
“Until a comprehensive funding plan is established that preserves local governments’ ability to provide these essential services, the Florida Fire Chiefs’ Association cannot support the amendment in its current form,” representatives from the Florida Fire Chiefs’ Association said in a statement.
“We remain committed to working with state leaders to develop solutions that protect both Florida taxpayers and the emergency services that safeguard every community.”
Stance on Gifford Neighborhood Plan
Gifford sits at the lower end of District 2.
The Gifford Neighborhood Plan – which focuses on redevelopment of infrastructure including sidewalks, along with economic development – has stalled for more than two decades. The plan was first developed and approved in 2002, and revised and approved again in 2014.
Gifford, an unincorporated community with a population of 5,000 people, has a rich African-American history and was the home of some of the notable Florida Highwaymen. However, it is also considered the poorest town in Florida, with a median household income of $33,175, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
In a recent forum, each candidate was asked how they would move the Gifford Neighborhood Plan forward. Robinson said the county commission needs to be able to put dollars behind the plan to make it viable.
“Gifford should be at the top of the list to receive when funds are allocated,” Robinson said. “There is an underserved element of this community that doesn’t have the basic infrastructure they need.”
Pippin said somebody needs to be held accountable as to why the Gifford Neighborhood Plan was not executed, whether it’s the entire board of county commissioners or the person who was District 2 commissioner when the plan was created.
Hardingham said he realizes the infrastructure in Gifford has not been upgraded in a very long time.
“Gifford was promised money when these gated communities went up all around it,” Hardingham said. “As a county commissioner, I will find out what went wrong with that deal and do what I can to help Gifford as much as I can.”
McPartlan said if Amendment 3 passes and it doesn’t work, there is no backup for securing funding for the Gifford Neighborhood Plan. He added that he will push to get the Gifford Neighborhood Plan back on track and meet its mark.
About the candidates
Robinson, a lifelong Indian River County resident and Vero Beach High School graduate, serves as vice-president of the longtime local family business Fulmer Logistics Services. Robinson is a former member of the Republican Executive Committee.
Robinson plans to focus on investing in roads, the airport, key interchanges such as the new Oslo Road exit on Interstate 95; attracting high-quality industries that align with the community; investing in parks; creating a stronger oversight of spending and contracts; and protecting the Indian River Lagoon and natural lands, among others.
McPartlan is a U.S. Army veteran, former Sebastian mayor and currently works as a Community Development Administrator for the Florida Department of Children and Families. The Sebastian resident is the chairman of the Metropolitan Planning Organization, and also a member of the Children’s Services Advisory Committee and the Indian River Lagoon Council.
McPartlan says his top priorities are protecting the health of the Indian River Lagoon; taking a practical approach to decisions about roads, utilities and development countywide; providing a disciplined budget while keeping taxes reasonable; and strengthening public safety to ensure safe neighborhoods.
Pippin, a lifelong county resident, served as legislative chair for the Moms for Liberty Indian River County chapter, a conservative parental advocacy group known for its national efforts to remove books they deem have illicit content from school libraries. She previously served on the Florida Department of Education Library Media Review Committee, the School District of Indian River County’s Code of Conduct Committee and as vice-president of Professional Republican Women and Mothers.
Pippin’s areas of focus include responsible growth to protect the roads, environment and community; wise and transparent spending of taxpayer dollars; wise decisions on infrastructure that protect the environment and wallets of local families; and full support to law enforcement and first responders.
Hardingham is a lifelong county resident, army veteran and truck driver. His top priorities are saving the Indian River Lagoon from old septic system leaks and stormwater; providing affordable, workforce housing; procuring housing for veterans and expanding transportation to veterans affairs facilities; battling homelessness and providing a more transparent way for residents to be informed of county commission decisions and other factors that may impact citizens.
Photos by Joshua Kodis
