Florida GOP Ousts Brevard Republican Leader Rick Lacey Over Campaign Finance, Conduct Breaches

Lacey Removed as Brevard GOP Chair After State Party Finds 15 Rule Violations

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – The Republican Party of Florida has removed longtime Brevard County Republican Executive Committee Chair Rick Lacey from his position, ruling that he violated multiple party rules involving campaign finance and internal conduct.

The decision, finalized Tuesday, October 21, follows a months-long investigation and a formal recommendation from the party’s Grievance Committee. The ruling not only ousts Lacey from his leadership post but also bars him from holding any official Republican Party role for two years.

According to the committee’s report, Lacey—who recently won a fifth term as Brevard GOP chair—was found to have breached 15 separate party rules. Those included alleged failures to properly disclose donations and expenditures, misuse of authority, and violations of the state party’s model constitution.

The investigation stemmed from a series of complaints filed by Congressman Randy Fine, State Committeewoman Marie Rogerson, and several other Brevard Republicans. All complaints were consolidated and reviewed together during an October 16 meeting of the state Grievance Committee.

“The Grievance Committee’s decision is justice for every honest Republican who plays by the rules,” Fine said in a statement. “For too long, Lacey treated the Brevard GOP as his personal piggy bank and political machine.”

In a post celebrating the decision, Fine called Lacey a “lifelong Pennsylvania Democrat” and said his expulsion would allow Brevard Republicans to “elect a chairman who is not working for Democrats.”

Lacey, a Viera-based real estate broker, has not responded publicly to the ruling.

He had narrowly won reelection earlier this year, defeating Public Defender Blaise Trettis in a closely watched 140–110 vote that exposed deep divisions within the county party. The contest drew high-profile endorsements from both sides, including Brevard Sheriff Wayne Ivey and State Rep. Randy Fine.

Under party bylaws, Brevard GOP Vice Chair Dave Fosdick will assume interim leadership duties until a new election is held.

The state committee’s findings emphasized what it described as a “repeated pattern of violations and ineffective leadership.” The panel concluded that removing Lacey was “in the best interests of the Brevard Republican Executive Committee.”

The action marks the latest escalation in a long-running feud between Brevard’s Republican factions. In July, Lacey’s local committee unsuccessfully attempted to remove Fine from his position as state committeeman—a move state party leaders later reversed.

With Lacey’s removal now official, Brevard Republicans face a leadership transition amid continuing internal strife that could shape the party’s direction heading into 2026.

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