Understanding 2026 Florida Ballot Initiatives
SEPTEMBER 3 / 6:30 PM
LIVE at the: Unitarian Universalist Church
of Brevard
2185 Meadowlane Avenue, West Melbourne, FL
ZOOM:
https://us02web.zoom.us/
Meeting ID: 884 7428 3845 Passcode: 933910
Face Book:
https://www.facebook.com /SCPAFlorida/
Partnered with Awake Brevard Action Alliance
While referendums and initiatives are often mentioned together, there are important differences between an initiative and a referendum. An initiative typically allows citizens to propose new laws or changes by collecting signatures to place an issue on the ballot, whereas a referendum asks voters to approve or reject a proposal that has already been introduced by a governing body.
Each election cycle brings uncertainty about what we vote for. When there is an initiative or referendum, a lot of citizens are confused as to what to do. There are often key words that make it all sound reasonable and for the better good, but to what expense? Some people simply don’t have time to seek the truth.
The Space Coast Progressive Alliance, partnered with Awake Brevard Action Alliance, has put together a panel of experts who can give you an idea of what the upcoming election has to offer. Saving taxes has been a huge topic but what services could be at risk? What could go lacking? Questions linger for even the most astute voter. This measure along with others on millage rates, the environment, and other issues will be addressed.
SPEAKERS:
Jason Garcia
Publisher of ‘Seeking Rents’ podcast
discusses proposed Property Tax Exemption
Jason Garcia is a celebrated investigative journalist with a 20+ year past history of writing about the ways businesses influence and shape public policy for the Orlando Sentinel in Florida. He has devoted his career to understanding and explaining how businesses shape gov-ernment policy – particularly tax policy. Specific beats included the Florida Legislature, the Walt Diney Co., Universal Parks & Resorts and SeaWorld Entertainment Inc. His work has won numerous state and national awards, including a National Headliner Award for his series on corporate tax avoidance, “Big Profits, Tiny Taxes.”
Lew Kontnik
Brevard Indian Rivers Lagoon Coalition
Board Member (retired)
Lew moved to Brevard in 2016, just in time for the massive fish kill. He immediately became active with the Brevard Indian River Lagoon Coalition that helped pass the first Save Our Indian River Lagoon (SOIRL) half cent sales tax. He has continued to be active with Lagoon restoration since, including as a co-founder of the IRL Roundtable.
He has a graduate Environmental Engineering degree, as well as a Law degree and worked as a professional in both fields. In years prior to retiring to Brevard, he became a global anticounterfeiting expert, author of Counterfeiting Exposed, founder of the company Reconnaissance International, and helped major pharmaceutical companies to protect their patients from fake drugs.
Vanessa Skipper
Vice President, Brevard Federation of Teachers
Vanessa is the VP of the Brevard Federation of Teachers and also serves as the Secondary Director on the Executive Cabinet of the Florida Education Association. Previously, she was an area director on the executive board of the Brevard Federation of Teachers, a member of the BFT bargaining team (still on team as VP), and building representative at Cocoa High School. Her involvement with the union began by taking over as a building representative when the BR at her school retired. She had the highest percentage increase in membership in Brevard since taking over as a building representative. Then selected as one of the founding members of FYRE, Florida’s Young Remarkable Educators, she represented Florida at the NEA Women in Leadership Summit in Atlanta, the NEA Member Voices training in Washington D.C., and the NEA Leadership Summit in Dallas, TX. She was also one of six finalists for the 2014-2015 Brevard Public Schools Teacher of the Year. Vanessa taught secondary English Language Arts & journalism for twelve years before being elected as a release officer of BFT. Standing up for students and our profession is her passion. She loves representing Brevard teachers in the fight to keep our profession respected and our classrooms places where learning comes first.