Brevard County Commission Vice Chair Bryan Lober is expected to be a focus of attention on Tuesday, when commissioners will hold their first meeting after their June recess. That's largely because of recent remarks Lober has made on social media that have divided the community, as well as his interaction with critics during commission meetings.

Critics of Lober's remarks — including ones directed at Brevard County Democratic Executive Committee Chair Stacey Patel — are likely to be at the meeting to address the County Commission during the public comment periods. So are supporters of Lober.

Additionally, Cocoa resident Mel Martin has submitted a citizen request for the meeting agenda, asking that the County Commission to "develop and enforce a policy of basic expectations in the conduct of county officials and employees."

Her item currently is at the tail-end of a lengthy agenda for the meeting, which begins at 5 p.m. Tuesday in the commission chambers in Building C of the Brevard County Government Center, 2725 Judge Fran Jamieson Way, Viera.

"I'm sure lots of people will want to speak" at the meeting, Martin said, both on her item and during the two general public comment periods, which are held near the beginning and near the end of the meeting.

More:Space Coast Progressive Alliance calls for Bryan Lober to resign as county commissioner

More:Some Brevard commissioners scorn Lober's Facebook comments

Among Lober's more controversial remarks he made targeting Patel was a post on Facebook saying that, although he disagrees with abortion, he "might just be willing to look the other way” if Patel sought abortions.

“I can only imagine what a scourge on humanity (and our economy) her offspring would prove to be given that her litter would likely be raised with an entitlement mentality, zero work ethic, and taught the hypocritically racist and sexist position that the white man is evil,” Lober wrote. “Unfortunately those least capable of properly raising children typically procreate without a second thought.”

Martin's citizen request does not mention Lober by name, but she says Lober's recent Facebook comments, as well as his in-person interactions with critics during County Commission meetings, were among the things that were the impetus for her proposal.

"Based on months of community discussions and press coverage (locally, regionally, and nationally), it appears necessary to clarify community standards and expectations of those who represent our residents and work in our best interests," Martin wrote in her citizen request agenda report for commissioners. "As the actual or perceived chilling of free speech (to include critical political speech) is a nonpartisan/cross-partisan concern, we must address this issue quickly and resolutely. Whether this manifests as an ethics ordinance, an ethics board or other measure(s), we request to provide assurance to Brevard residents that sufficient process will be implemented to maintain the integrity of our county government."

Lober, a Republican representing County Commission District 2, said he has had no issues in direct dealings with Martin, a Democrat who lost a 2018 Florida Senate race in District 14 to Tom Wright. Martin — a retired U.S. Marine Corps major and judge advocate — is one of the organizers of the FLORIDA TODAY Civility Brevard project.

Lober, an attorney and mediator who was elected to his County Commission seat in November, just doesn't see eye-to-eye with Martin on the premise of her resolution.

"Irrespective of my or Ms. Martin’s political affiliation, having communicated with her on a variety of issues, I do not believe Ms. Martin has suggested that I have ever been unfair, unpleasant or inaccessible to her," Lober told FLORIDA TODAY.

"She appears upset with my response to an unapologetically bigoted non-constituent," Lober said, in a reference to Patel.

Lober is upset at Patel, in part, for a Facebook comment she made related to the 2020 presidential election, in which she wrote: "Friendly reminder: Under no circumstances should the final Democratic ticket be two white men. Thanks. Back to our regularly scheduled programming."

Lober has said he felt that was a "blatantly sexist and racist post which seeks to discriminate against qualified individuals solely on the basis of race and gender."

"That said," Lober said in his comments to FLORIDA TODAY about Martin's proposal, "this comes down to a freedom of speech versus best practice issue. I support aspirational standards, but it is un-American and profoundly dangerous to so much as consider enacting something abridging the freedom of speech of any citizen, regardless of whether that citizen is Joe or Jane Q. Public, or an elected official. I have been and I remain a staunch advocate of all our cherished constitutional rights.”

Martin said she is supportive of First Amendment right to free speech. But she said her proposal is "a call for better behavior" by public officials and other county staff.

Lober and Martin have been conversing cordially via email over the past week about the issue, but Martin says she hasn't been able to get Lober to change his views.

"I had hoped that this matter would've been addressed and solved long before now," Martin said. "There have been multiple episodes since this last winter and multiple opportunities for party leadership to take effective measures, but the longstanding silence and surprising inaction has compelled my duty as a citizen to speak up on the matter."

Martin said the matter "starts and ends with this simple truth: Our First Amendment right to freely and openly criticize our government's leaders and policies is sacrosanct. It is what makes America so beautiful. Our system is based on that feedback loop, so we can continue to correct our course toward better days."

Martin said she has indicated to Lober in their correspondence over the last week that "my base expectation of a public official includes no dehumanizing language toward private citizens; no retaliatory behavior against private citizens; and no chilling of any speech, much less critical political statements, made by private citizens. As an elected official, he has a higher duty and greater responsibility to conduct himself with honor, civility and decorum. I hope the County Commission, as our community's representative body, can and will effectively enforce such standards on our behalf."

Lober has contended that, the First Amendment rights to free speech extend to him as a citizen, and that he is within his right to make comments about other citizens, especially ones who are critical of him, both in person, and via email and social media.

He also has cited distasteful comments directed at him from members of the public as an issue.

But Martin contends that elected officials like Lober should have a standard for conducting themselves in their interaction with the public that supersedes that, and that Lober's comments have the effect of dissuading the public from expressing legitimate disagreements with him.

"This is a nonpolitical issue," Martin said. "It is not about distasteful jokes, hurt feelings or who started what first. It is about the sacred relationship between government and the people it serves, and how an elected official should conduct himself in the public fora."

Martin said she believes Lober "has the wherewithal to learn this fundamental truth, correct himself, and allow Brevard County to get back to much more important business. If insidious violations of our community's First Amendment rights continue to persist, however, so will I."

Lober's comments have generated widespread media attention,as well as criticism from the Space Coast Progressive Alliance and from the Florida branch of the Anti-Defamation League. The Space Coast Progressive Alliance also called for Lober's resignation as a county commissioner, for what it said was Lober's "extraordinarily poor judgment in your actions and words in recent months."

County Commissioner Curt Smith previously said he planned to address Lober's comments at Tuesday's County Commission meeting.

But there is no requirement for the County Commission as a whole to vote on Martin's proposal, after she presents it and other residents are given the opportunity to comment on it.

Dave Berman is government editor at FLORIDA TODAY.

Contact Berman at 321-242-3649

or dberman@floridatoday.com.

Twitter: @bydaveberman

Facebook: /dave.berman.54