Hartman, Smith Win Third Straight Straw Poll

By  //  July 9, 2014

Space Coast Conservative Coalition Forum

ABOVE VIDEO:  Brevard County Commission candidates Mike Hartman and Curt Smith talk about their campaigns and straw poll results.

BREVARD COUNTY • VIERA, FLORIDA – Brevard County Commission candidates Mike Hartman (District 2) and Curt Smith (District 4) won by wide margins at the Space Coast Conservative Coalition Forum and straw poll on Tuesday night.

Space-Coast-Conservative-Coalition-435
Brevard County Commission District 4 candidate Rick Lacey delivers his closing remarks during the Space Coast Conservative Coalition Forum and Straw Poll. Brevard County Commission District 4 candidates above are, left to right, Frank Zilaitis, Curt Smith, Bill Klein and Dave Armstrong. (SpaceCoastDaily.com image)

For both Hartman and Smith, Tuesday’s straw poll results marked their third-straight straw poll victory.

The straw poll was conducted by the Brevard County Supervisor of Elections.

In addition to the straw poll, candidates participated in a forum that covered multiple topics, ranging from property rights, to the status of the All Aboard train, as well as the future of the Economic Development Commission.

District 4 Frank Zilaitis candidate drew some of the loudest applause of the 200 people in attendance after telling the audience that one of his first proposals would be to remove public funding from the EDC.

Other topics that generated crowd enthusiasm included public service pension reform and All Aboard Florida’s plan to pass through Brevard en route to Miami, with no stops.

Each candidate expressed deep concern of the potential negative impact of the high speed train, and District 4 candidate David Armstrong drew applause when he vowed to vote against any county funding toward maintenance of a private rail that didn’t service the county.

The Space Coast Conservative Coalition includes the Brevard 9/12 group, Space Coast Patriots and the Republican Liberty Caucus of Central East Florida.

STRAW POLL RESULTS

Brevard County Commission District 2

  • Michael Hartman – 110
  • Jim Barfield – 29
  • Chuck Sheridan – 9
  • Ron Taylor – 9

Brevard County Commission District 4

  • Curt Smith – 113
  • Rick Lacey – 64
  • Bill Klein – 42
  • David Armstrong – 27
  • Frank Zilaitis – 9
  • Greg Jones – 6
  • Richard Charbonneau – 1

*Results are not scientific.

ABOVE VIDEO: Bill Klein’s closing statement.

ABOVE VIDEO: Curt Smith’s closing statement.

ABOVE VIDEO: Dave Armstrong’s closing statement.

ABOVE VIDEO: Rick Lacey closing statement.

ABOVE VIDEO: Frank Zilaitis closing statement.

ABOVE VIDEO: Chuck Sheridan closing statement.

ABOVE VIDEO: Mike Hartman closing statement.