Former State Rep. Tom Goodson wins Brevard County District 2 Republican primary
Former Florida Rep. Tom Goodson secured the Republican nomination for the Brevard County District 2 commission seat, with 41.76% of the total vote in a four-candidate race.
The race for the seat, vacated by Commissioner Bryan Lober, who resigned earlier this year for personal reasons, was one of the most crowded in the primary election.
“Thank you to the voters of District 2 and to everyone who worked so hard on our campaign,” Goodson said. “I deeply appreciate your support, and look forward to the general election in November. As your county commissioner, I will work to strengthen our economy, keep our streets safe, restore the Indian River and keep taxes low."
2022 Florida Primary:Brevard County election results
Candidate lineup:Four Republicans, one NPA candidate seek to fill vacant District 2 Brevard Commission seat
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With his win, Goodson earns the right to take on non-party affiliated candidate Dontavious Smith in the general election on Nov. 8.
District 2 includes Avon by the Sea, Cape Canaveral, Cocoa Beach, Kennedy Space Center, Port Canaveral and Snug Harbor, as well as most Merritt Island, and portions of Cocoa, Rockledge and Patrick Air Force Base.
The term of office for a county commissioner is four years, and the position pays $58,145.36 a year.
Among the other candidates, Dave Netterstrom received 23.85% of the vote, Christopher Hattaway received 21.59% and Joey Cholewa received 12.80%.
Lober resigned in April because of the death of his grandmother. Shortly after Lober made his announcement, Goodson announced his candidacy for the vacancy.
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A former state representative and port commissioner, Goodson owns a local paving company that has contracts for several projects with the county.
It was no secret that local political leaders were angling for him to become the next commissioner.
Sheriff Wayne Ivey, along with Rick Lacey, the chair of the Brevard Republican Executive Committee, tried unsuccessfully to persuade Gov. Ron DeSantis to appoint Goodson to the position after Lober stepped down.
Ivey then went on to endorse Goodson as his chosen candidate and tried to talk at least one of his opponents — Cocoa police officer Christopher Hattaway, who placed third in the contest — into leaving to race.
According to Hattaway, Ivey offered him a job at one point as a legislative assistant in Goodson's office if Goodson prevailed. Goodson denied that Ivey ever spoke to him about a job for Hattaway.
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Financially, other candidates found it hard to compete with the head start Goodson had going into the race. Goodson managed to build a significant war chest, raising almost $150,000 for the contest. Of that, Goodson spent more than $90,000 on signs, mailers, robotexts and robocalls.
That there will be a new commissioner in District 2 is in of itself remarkable because it Lober looked to have a lock on a second term.
What they said:Election 2022: Hear from Brevard County Commission candidates
Then an anonymous email in February was sent to commissioners and the media raising questions about money Lober spent on office equipment with his county-issued purchasing card from federal funds allocated to the county to help with the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Over the next few months that followed, commissioners called for an audit of all commissioner p-card spending and Lober resigned.
Soon after the candidate field for his abandoned seat began to swell.
Former Cocoa Beach Mayor Dave Netterstrom filed paperwork to run and Goodson followed suit.
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Hattaway jumped into the race in May.
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Hattaway had to raise a substantial amount of money in a short time to compete. According to his campaign finance report, Hattaway raised almost $27,000, none of which came from himself. He also spent almost all of it, about $26,000, to market himself to voters.
He gained a lot of attention by speaking out against what he said was the sheriff's attempt to get him out of the race, but in the end, he finished third, garnering slightly more than 3,000 votes to account for about 22% of the votes cast.
Hattaway could not be immediately reached for comment.
"I wish all the other candidates the best and thank them for a spirited campaign,” Goodson said Tuesday.
Ralph Chapoco is government and politics watchdog reporter. You can reach Chapoco at rchapoco@floridatoday.com and follow him on Twitter @rchapoco.