Staff reports

Democratic candidates are no-shows in a number of the major Brevard County elections this year.

There is not a Democrat in three of five state legislative races within Brevard, in one of two Brevard County Commission races nor in all three Canaveral Port Authority races.

Among the Democrats running for the Florida Legislature is Palm Bay resident Santa Isabel Wright, one of five candidates seeking the seat in Florida House District 53, the position now held by Republican John Tobia, who is seeking re-election. The other three candidates are Republican Tim Street, who will face Tobia in a primary; David Kearns, running with no party affiliation; and write-in candidate Kourtney Ann Waldron.

“It’s so hard to run as a Democrat,” Wright said, especially without the money to mountan aggressive campaign.

Wright said she believes the Democratic Party needs to be “more proactive” in attracting candidates to run for office. But she said it can be difficult when potential candidates are wary about running and facing personal attacks from opponents during the campaign.

Latest voter registration figures show only 33.5 percent of Brevard’s 371,985 registered voters are members of the Democratic Party. That compared with 41.8 percent who are members of the Republican Party, 20.9 percent enrolled in no political party and 3.7 percent who are members of a minor party.

But Tobia’s District 53 in south Brevard is unusual for the county, as it has slightly more Democrats than Republicans.

The lack of Democratic candidates is not just a Brevard County phenomenon. Thirteen of the 20 Florida Senate races that are on the ballot this year have no Democratic candidates, as do 40 of the 120 Florida House races.

Democrats do have their own strongholds, though they are far fewer than the GOP’s. Two Florida Senate races and 27 Florida House races are without a Republican candidate.

These figures don’t count one House district in which no candidate qualified for a ballot spot by the June 20 deadline, because the incumbent Democrat did not turn in the required paperwork. A new qualifying period will be established.

Dave Berman, FLORIDA TODAY

Palm Shores mayor honored

The Florida League of Cities recognized Palm Shores Mayor Carol McCormack with a 2014 Home Rule Hero Award for her “tireless efforts to advance the league’s legislative agenda and help protect the home rule powers of Florida’s cities during the 2014 legislative session,” according to a news release from the group.

Home rule is the ability of a city to establish its own form of government and enact ordinances, codes, plans and resolutions without prior state approval. The Home Rule Hero Award recipients are local government officials — both elected and non-elected — who consistently responded to the league’s request to reach out to members of the legislature and help give a local perspective to an issue.

McCormack has served as mayor of Palm Shores since December 2002 and was re-elected without opposition to four-year terms in both 2007 and 2011.

John McCarthy, FLORIDA TODAY

Women’s club delivers ‘Democratic Delights’

The South Brevard Democratic Women’s Club spends most of its time whipping up support for the party. But, apparently, at least some of its members can also whip up some tasty dishes.

The club is now selling “Democratic Delights,” a cookbook of its members’ “tastiest tried-and-true recipes.” The book contains over 225 recipes — everything from appetizers to desserts. Each recipe includes the contributor’s name, so it’s easy to find the recipes of friends and loved ones.

The cookbook has special features, which include a hardback cover with three-ring binder which allows you to add pages; full-color cardstock dividers between sections; special information pages that cover cooking terms, calorie counting charts, substitutions, quick fixes, napkin folding, pantry basics, and herb and spice guides; and special guides on fruit and vegetables, baking bread and baking deserts.

The full-color patriotic hardback cover is lined in a colorful guide that gives information on quick common substitutions, a roasting time chart, cooking time chart for pasta, food-storage safety chart, and charts on measurement equivalents and time changes from a standard oven to a slow cooker. The recipe pages are printed on upgraded heavier-weight, cream-colored stock.

The book is selling for $20, with the profits used to sustain club endeavors, such as educating the public on political issues and holding political forums. For more information or to purchase cookbooks, call 321-773-2949 or email Patricia Farley at pfarley_101@hotmail.com.

John McCarthy, FLORIDA TODAY

BY THE NUMBERS

Brevard County-based Florida Rep. Ritch Workman is one of 44 state legislators in Florida re-elected without opposition. That includes:

8 Republican state senators

22 Republican House members

14 Democratic House members

(There also was one non-incumbent Democrat elected to a House seat without opposition)

Have political news?

If you have political news to share, contact Enterprise Editor John McCarthy at 321-752-5018 or jmccarthy@floridatoday.com.