CocoaNot a ballot

Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Cocoa City Council Election 2026

2 of 5 council seats are on the ballot, with 5 candidates running. Updated Oct 5, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check

Not sure who to vote for? Answer 4 questions and see which candidates agree with you, and why.

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Nov 3Election Day

How to vote · 11 days left

Find where to voteCheck your registration
Early voting ends (Oct 31): the election office's notice

These links go to official state and county election sites. Hours and rules differ by state; your election office has the final word.

Your houseWhat does your Cocoa house pay?A Cocoa house at the typical market value ($246,100) pays about $11,300 a year. Enter your address for your own number: property tax from the county's record, water, trash and energy, and the money dates ahead.

The candidates

Listed alphabetically by last name. Every position links to its source.

Two of the council's five seats are on this ballot: District 1 and District 4. The Mayor and the District 2 and District 3 members were elected in 2024 and are not on this ballot.

Early voting ends · Oct 31

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Also on your Nov 3 ballot

We research city races only. For these races, go to the state's official guide or a nonpartisan one.

  • Governor
    8 candidates on the ballot
    • Byron Donalds · Republican
    • David Jolly · Democratic
    • Scott Eckhard Jewett · Libertarian
    • Charles Burkett · No Party Affiliation
    • Frank J. Russo · No Party Affiliation
    • Moliere "Moe" Dimanche · No Party Affiliation
    • Dean Ocean Abrams · No Party Affiliation
    • Jeffrey Peter "Dr. Jeff" Datto · No Party Affiliation
    Official candidate list, in its order
  • U.S. Senate (special election)
    • Ashley Moody · Republican
    • Angie Nixon · Democratic
    • Neil J. Gillespie · No Party Affiliation
    Official candidate list, in its order
  • Also statewideAttorney General · Chief Financial Officer · Commissioner of Agriculture
  • U.S. HouseDistrict 8
  • State House of RepresentativesDistrict 31
  • Statewide measures3 on the ballot: the state's official explanations
Official voter lookupState voter guideVote411 (League of Women Voters)

Districts come from 2020 Census blocks and the district maps for this election. Your address decides your districts.

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Officeholders' pages compare what they've said with how they've voted, with sources.

What the next council decides

01Property taxes and the FY2027 budget4 sourced facts

Where it standsOn July 28, 2026 the council approved a proposed FY2027 millage rate of 6.9532 mills, 1.29% over the 6.8648 rolled-back rate; a final budget hearing was set for Sept. 23, 2026.

What's on the tableWhat property tax rate and budget the city adopts in future years, and how much goes to services and the two redevelopment agencies.

02Affordable housing in the Michael C. Blake Subdivision3 sourced facts

Where it standsThe city and Lennar Homes signed an amended development agreement in July 2025, and on March 24, 2026 the council approved a first addendum letting construction start before final plat approval.

What's on the tableWhether the city keeps changing the schedule and terms for building homes on former city-owned lots in the Diamond Square redevelopment area.

03New development in flood-prone areas3 sourced facts

Where it standsOn April 14, 2026 the council approved the site plan and preliminary plat for Cocoa Village Bay Estates 3-2 after residents raised flooding concerns.

What's on the tableHow the city weighs flooding, drainage and emergency access when it reviews new subdivisions.

04Industrial annexation off Grissom Parkway3 sourced facts

Where it standsOn April 14, 2026 the council approved first readings to annex about 45 acres east of Grissom Parkway and designate it for industrial use.

What's on the tableFinal votes on the annexation, land-use and zoning ordinances, and how Cocoa grows its industrial and logistics base.

4 notes on these statements

The city directory lists Alex Goins as Deputy Mayor for District 1. City of Cocoa

The Supervisor of Elections list for District 1 shows Alton Edmond, Angie Jones Smith and Duffy Wagner as qualified candidates. Brevard County Supervisor of Elections

The city directory lists Lorraine Koss as Councilmember for District 4. City of Cocoa

The Supervisor of Elections list for District 4 shows Ron Chabot and Josué Otero as qualified candidates. Brevard County Supervisor of Elections

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Who matches you?

Answer any of these questions. We compare your answers with each person's sourced record, and nothing is stored. Questions where no one has a sourced record yet are left out. Tap a selected answer again to skip it.

  1. 1. What property tax rate should Cocoa set?

  2. 2. How should Cocoa use city-owned lots for affordable housing?

  3. 3. Should Cocoa cut fees to attract new businesses?

  4. 4. How should Cocoa pay for lagoon and septic-to-sewer projects?

Seat the councilSeat the Council →Pick a winner for each open seat and see where the resulting council stands on each issue.On the recordHow the council voted5 council decisions, each member's vote side by side, with a link to the minutes.New · How Cocoa is runWho runs Cocoa, and what it costsThe city manager earns $196,227. See council pay, whether the city is in the red, and where your property tax goes.Your houseA Cocoa house at the typical market value ($246,100) pays about $11,300 a yearProperty tax, water, trash and energy, line by line for your address, plus the savings most owners miss.

Key dates

The seat math

3 stay (not up this year): Michael C. Blake, Lavander Hearn, Patricia Weeks2 on this ballot

5 council seats. The council decides by a 3-vote majority.

Every claim here links to its source and was checked against it before publishing. How this guide works

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