Candidates
Local Candidates
Robbie Hardingham III – Indian RIver County Commission District 2
Hello neighbors,
I’m Robbie Hardingham III. I’m not a politician. I’m a truck driver, a veteran, and a lifelong resident who believes leadership should come from people who understand hard work and service.
I grew up in Vero Beach after my family moved here from Miami when I was a kid. After graduating from Vero Beach High, I joined the U.S. Army and served as a fuel truck driver. When I came home, I earned my CDL and spent nearly three decades behind the wheel, driving through all 48 states. Those miles showed me a lot of places and shaped who I am, but no matter how far I traveled, this was always the place I wanted to return to.
Now I want to give something back to the community that has been part of my life from the beginning. I have spent a lot of time thinking on the road, and many of my clearest ideas have come to me while driving. VALOR was one of them. It came to me during a long stretch behind the wheel, when I was thinking about home and what matters most here.
VALOR stands for Veterans, Affordability, Lagoon, Opportunity, and Respect. For more details on how VALOR applies to my goals in Indian River County, please check out my website below.
Connect with Robbie and his campaign here
Marc Jaffe – Indian River County Commission District 4 
Indian River County deserves leadership that listens, plans ahead, and delivers practical solutions for the people who live and work here every day.
I’m Marc Jaffe, and I’m running for County Commissioner because I believe our community’s best days are still ahead of us. Together, we can protect our quality of life, support responsible growth, strengthen public safety, and keep our neighborhoods thriving for future generations.
For years, residents have asked for leadership that is accessible, transparent, and focused on results instead of politics. That is exactly the kind of commissioner I intend to be. For more information on my platform, please go to my website below.
Connect with Mark and his campaign here
Deborah Shellenberger – Sebastian City Council
Fourteen years ago, my husband and I came to Florida searching for a place where we could eventually retire. By sheer accident, we discovered Sebastian. We liked the homes, but the moment we saw the Indian River Lagoon, we knew we had found our future.
Today, as I run for a seat on the Sebastian City Council, I bring with me a lifetime of caring for people. I spent 23 years as a Registered Nurse and another 24 as a Physician Assistant, building a career centered on public health, safety, and advocating for individuals and families who needed someone in their corner. I’ve spent decades listening, problem solving, and helping people through their hardest moments, and I intend to carry those same values into service for our community.
I care deeply about the Lagoon, a place my neighbors and I cherish, and I am committed to protecting it from the environmental pressures that threaten its future. I understand how rising housing costs affect the people who keep Sebastian running. The teachers, nurses, first responders, and service workers, because I’ve spent my life working alongside them. I’ve also seen the growing challenges
Connect with Deborah and her campaign here
Daren Soto – US Congress District 9
Darren Soto was elected to Congress in 2016 to represent Florida’s Ninth Congressional District, which includes all of Osceola County, and parts of Orange and Polk Counties. Darren is proud to be the first person of Puerto Rican descent to serve in Congress from Florida.
For more information on Darren Soto and his platform, please go to the website below