Infantini Files To Run For Clerk of Court In 2016
By Charles Parker // December 30, 2014
BREVARD COUNTY • TITUSVILLE, FLORIDA – Though it is almost two years from Election Night in 2016, one particular local race could become a blockbuster.
Current Brevard District 3 County Commissioner Trudie Infantini has filed to run for the Clerk of the Circuit Court. This constitutional office is currently held by Scott Ellis, who is eligible for re-election.
“2016 is over a year away and as of now, I have no plans as to what I will do then,” Ellis told Space Coast Daily.
Infantini has served two terms on the commission and is unable to run again due to term limits.
“The best person to succeed Scott Ellis as Clerk is a person so similar to him that the office of the Clerk would not even notice a change in leadership,” Infantini said.
“The position needs someone who is logical, well-prepared, financially astute, and willing to be watchdog for the county’s spending. I have the necessary skills, experience, and moral compass to take on the role of Clerk of Courts.”
When asked by if email “what if” Ellis ran for re-election, Infantini did not respond.
On her Facebook page, Infantini posted the following, “It is official. I am running for Clerk of the Courts. Now let us see if we can get Roger Shealy to run for District 1 and Scott Ellis to stay here, instead of West Virginia, and run for District 5. Imagine how the county would look!”
Republican Benjamin Eaker is the only person who has filed to run for County Commission District 1.
As well, some other current office-holders are trying to continue to serve the county, but in different offices due to term limits.
Last November, current District 5 commissioner Andy Anderson filed to run for Florida House of Representatives in District 53, which is currently held by John Tobia. Anderson has a Democrat opponent – Santa Isabel Wright.
Tobia, who was just re-elected in District 53, has filed to run for Infantini’s commission seat. He previously held the seat in District 31, but changed due to re-districting. Tobia has also reached the term limit for his House seat.
So far, Republican Tobia has one Democrat opponent – Randy Foster of Palm Bay. Foster works at Tru-AGE Health, LLC, according to his LinkedIn page. Tobia is a professor at Valencia College.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Charles Parker is a longtime resident of Brevard County and has been writing for various publications for the last 40 years – both print and digital. Parker covers space, politics, religion, and other news and special events for Space Coast Daily.
Currently, he is an aerospace engineering teacher at Merritt Island High School. He is also the director of both the da Vinci Academy of Aerospace Technology and the Academy of Hospitality, Entrepreneurship, and Tourism at MIHS. He is a professor of Humanities and World Religions at Eastern Florida State College and Valencia College.
Parker has worked extensively in the tourism and aerospace industries in Brevard. He has also been a United Methodist pastor and director of a non-profit to help young adults aging out of foster care. He was formerly a board member at Brevard Achievement Center and the Childcare Association of Brevard. He was appointed by Governor Jeb Bush to the Children’s Services Council from 1999-2003.
Parker earned a BA in Organizational Management from Warner University and a Master of Divinity from Asbury Theological Seminary. He is married, has four children and one grandchild.
AUTHOR NOTE: These views are mine alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of Brevard Public Schools, Eastern Florida State College, or Valencia College.
You can follow Parker on Twitter @cparker_scd
