Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Melbourne City Council Election 2026

2 of 7

council seats up

2 contests

4 candidates

Updated Oct 4, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check →

The candidates

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

City Council District 2 · 1 seat

City Council District 4 · 1 seat

Rachael BassettIncumbentRealtor and Melbourne City Council member for District 4 since 2022. She is a certified process server and a former Sheriff's Department dispatcher.8sourced
John BruceBid and proposal manager at a Fortune 5 company who has lived in Melbourne's District 4 for nine years. He has more than eight years of experience managing proposals, including for NASA and Space Coast aerospace pursuits.6sourced

Two council seats are on this ballot, District 2 (open) and District 4. Council members are elected citywide, so every Melbourne voter picks one candidate in each race; candidates must live in their district. District 6 is not on the ballot because its only candidate qualified unopposed.

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Paul AlfreyMayor; term ends November 20288sourced Mimi HanleyCouncil Member, District 5; term ends November 20289sourced David NeumanCouncil Member, District 3; term ends November 20288sourced Marcus SmithCouncil Member, District 1; term ends November 20287sourced

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

Start here

Match quiz5 questions · answers stay on your phone Seat the CouncilPick winners, see the council What council decidesBudget and the property tax rate, Amendment 3 and city revenue, Fire Station 72 replacement Key datesDeadlines and vote centers

Next date

Voter registration deadline

Mon, Oct 5, 2026

TodayAll key dates

What the next council decides

Budget and the property tax rate

Where it standsOn Sept. 9, 2026, the council voted to adopt a proposed FY2027 operating millage rate of 6.9473, 1.01% above the rolled-back rate, and approved a $421,702,899 budget.

What's on the tableHow to set tax rates and what to fund or cut in future budgets, including positions, programs and outside agency funding.

A millage rate above the rolled-back rate of 6.8781 required a two-thirds vote of the council under state law. City of Melbourne · Sep 9, 2026
The proposed budget presented July 29 included eliminating 17 positions and permanently deferring Fire Station 73 until a funding source is identified. City of Melbourne · Jul 29, 2026
On July 29 the council voted to rescind the council salary increases that were to take effect after the November 2026 election. City of Melbourne · Jul 29, 2026

Amendment 3 and city revenue

Where it standsA proposed constitutional amendment on homestead property taxes is on the November 2026 ballot, and the council has asked staff to look into a fire assessment fee.

What's on the tableHow Melbourne would replace lost property tax revenue if the amendment passes, including new fees.

The City Attorney told the council the amendment raises the homestead exemption from $50,000 to $150,000 starting Jan. 1, 2027, and to $250,000 starting Jan. 1, 2028. City of Melbourne · Jun 9, 2026
Finance staff said the fire assessment fee and the stormwater utility fee would be the only fees of that kind, and a fee study would cost about $250,000. City of Melbourne · Jun 9, 2026
The City Manager reminded the council that it expressed consensus on June 9 to look into adding a fire assessment fee, and said staff is already working on it. City of Melbourne · Jul 29, 2026

Fire Station 72 replacement

Where it standsOn July 14, 2026, the council approved a $1,000,000 purchase agreement for a Sarno Road site west of Wickham Road for the new Fire Station 72.

What's on the tableHow to pay for building the station and the site work, which staff estimated at about $1 million, and what happens to Fire Station 73 and other projects.

Staff compared three sites on May 26: the Sarno Road site west of Wickham Road, Jimmy Moore Park and three parcels east of Wickham Road. City of Melbourne · May 26, 2026
The July 14 report put the appraised value at $1 million and estimated site remediation at about $1 million, citing organic muck and shallow groundwater. City of Melbourne · Jul 14, 2026
The City Manager said the burden is shifting from one fire station to the next fire station. City of Melbourne · Jul 14, 2026

Flock license plate cameras

Where it standsBy Sept. 9, 2026, the city had suspended its Flock camera program and the cameras were being bagged pending removal.

What's on the tableWhether and how the city revisits automated license plate readers, and what privacy and audit rules would apply.

On Aug. 25 the Police Chief called the cameras a public safety tool governed by policies, training and internal audits. City of Melbourne · Aug 25, 2026
On Sept. 9 council members thanked the Chief and City Manager for suspending the program and said the matter may be revisited. City of Melbourne · Sep 9, 2026
The revised FY2027 budget presentation counted savings from cancelling the Flock camera contract. City of Melbourne · Sep 9, 2026

Growth and land-use rules

Where it standsThe council is updating development rules, including affordable housing definitions and fees for unpermitted tree removal.

What's on the tableWhich development rules and fees the new council adopts and how it weighs new projects.

On May 26 the council approved Ordinance 2026-23 on affordable housing development and Live Local Act projects on a 7-0 roll call. City of Melbourne · May 26, 2026
On Sept. 23 the council expressed consensus for staff to prepare code amendments and fee resolutions on unpermitted tree removal and land alterations. City of Melbourne · Sep 23, 2026

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. What property tax rate should Melbourne set?
2. If Amendment 3 cuts property tax revenue, should Melbourne add a fire assessment fee?
3. Where should the replacement Fire Station 72 be built?
4. Should Melbourne pay full dues to the Economic Development Commission and the Space Coast Chamber?
5. How should Melbourne's land-development code treat data centers?

Seat the Council →

Pick a winner for each open seat and see where the resulting council stands on each issue.

Key dates

Domestic vote-by-mail ballots mailedBrevard County Supervisor of ElectionsSep 30, 2026
Voter registration deadlineBrevard County Supervisor of ElectionsOct 5, 2026
Early voting beginsBrevard County Supervisor of ElectionsOct 19, 2026
Last day to request a mail ballotBrevard County Supervisor of ElectionsOct 22, 2026
Early voting endsBrevard County Supervisor of ElectionsOct 31, 2026
Election DayBrevard County Supervisor of ElectionsNov 3, 2026

The seat math

4 stay (not up this year): Paul Alfrey, Mimi Hanley, David Neuman, Marcus Smith2 on this ballot

7 council seats. The council decides by a 4-vote majority.

The City Council has seven members: the Mayor, who may live anywhere in the city, and six Council members who must each live in a specific district. All are elected at large by the city's voters. City of Melbourne
The Mayor and Council members serve four-year terms. City of Melbourne
Neither the Mayor nor a Council member may qualify to serve more than two complete consecutive terms. City of Melbourne
Melbourne uses a council-manager form of government: the Council hires a City Manager to run daily business. City of Melbourne

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