With the August 14 qualifying deadline officially closed, the stage is set for the November 3 municipal elections across Indian River County. Voters in Vero Beach, Sebastian, and Fellsmere will soon head to the polls to decide who will fill key city council seats for the upcoming two-year terms.
The upcoming November 3 General Election will determine municipal leadership across Indian River County, with Vero Beach, Sebastian, and Fellsmere presenting a mix of familiar incumbents and new challengers. Meanwhile, Indian River Shores and Orchid have canceled their elections due to unopposed candidates securing their seats.
In Vero Beach, three at-large City Council seats are up for grabs. These seats are currently held by John Carroll, Linda Moore, and Aaron Vos. City council members in Vero Beach receive a monthly salary of $1,244, while the mayor earns $1,505. Because the seats are elected at-large, candidates are permitted to live anywhere within the city limits. The official list of qualified candidates includes:
- Davis Benedict
- Brian Heady
- Jay Kramer
- Robert MacCallum
- Linda Moore (incumbent)
- John O’Connor
- Aaron Vos (incumbent)
- Tracey Zudans
Voters in Sebastian will be tasked with filling two at-large City Council seats, currently occupied by Ed Dodd and Sherrie Matthews. Council members in Sebastian are compensated $600 per month. The candidates vying for these positions are:
- Todd Clifton
- Robert Gable
- Damien Gilliams
- Richard Gillmor
- Sherrie Matthews (incumbent)
- Deborah Shellenberger
Fellsmere also has three at-large seats on the ballot this fall. Council members in Fellsmere earn $400 a month for their public service. The candidates who met the deadline to qualify are:
- Fernando Herrera (incumbent)
- Shayla Macias (incumbent)
- Javi Murillo
- Jose Zamarripa
Not all municipalities in the immediate area will see a contested November race. The town of Indian River Shores will bypass its election entirely, as only three candidates filed for the three available seats before their July 24 deadline. Pat Brier was elected without opposition to a two-year term ending in November 2028. Theresa Morgan and Robert “Rob” Stevenson also ran unopposed, securing four-year terms that will end in November 2030.
Similarly, the town of Orchid held its qualifying period earlier in April and will also forgo an election. Paul Stach, Bill James, and Tracy Cornwell were the only candidates to file for the three open seats and were elected without opposition.
As a crucial reminder for local residents eager to participate in the democratic process, only registered voters who reside directly within the specific city limits of these municipalities are eligible to cast a ballot in these local races during the November 3 General Election.
