Melbourne Beach candidates outline priorities on stormwater, short-term rentals, fire services and civility at League forum

Four candidates for two Melbourne Beach town commission seats outlined priorities on stormwater, short-term rentals, fire services, taxes and civic decorum at a League of Women Voters forum where residents posed questions and candidates gave opening and closing statements.

The forum, organized by the League of Women Voters of the Space Coast and moderated by Michael Kemp, drew candidates Dr. Terry Cronin, Bruce Larson, Sherry Quarry and Steve Walters. Each candidate described what they would seek to change during a three-year term and answered audience questions on topics that voters identified as urgent.

Why it matters: Voters asked for specifics on recurring local concerns — aging stormwater pipes and drainage basins that drain to the Indian River Lagoon, the impact and enforcement of short-term rental rules, whether Melbourne Beach should move from a largely volunteer fire department to a paid or hybrid model, and rising local taxes. Candidates’ answers give voters a comparative sense of how each would prioritize spending, enforcement and intergovernmental relationships if elected.

On short-term rentals, all four candidates said regulation and enforcement are priorities but differed on remedies. Sherry Quarry said short-term rentals are “a plague across the country” and endorsed continued efforts to restrict and control them, noting she authored the town’s first ordinance in 2020. Bruce Larson, who co-authored updated vacation-rental rules this year, said the town should "always on the side of the full time resident" and prioritized enforcement: "the current issue isn't the law, it's enforcement." Steve Walters said he is not a fan of more short-term rentals and cited public-safety and neighborhood concerns, noting state actions in 2011 and 2014 changed local regulatory authority. Dr. Terry Cronin said stronger enforcement of existing noise, parking and disruption rules and better staff retention would give residents more confidence that regulations are working.

Stormwater surfaced repeatedly. Candidates described the infrastructure as old and in need of prioritized investment. Bruce Larson called for a single, townwide plan that quantifies the total scope, costs and priorities for repair, saying, "we don't have a single plan that says what is the total challenge." Sherry Quarry highlighted aging underground pipes from the 1950s and 1960s and urged steady, ongoing work and use of available funding. Dr. Cronin pointed to surface approaches such as swales and ribbon curbing on Orange Street that help percolate runoff and reduce nutrient pollution to the lagoon.

On fire services, candidates described a community choice between maintaining a local department, adopting a hybrid paid/volunteer model, or contracting with county services. Sherry Quarry said she "supports the hybrid model for the fire department" and argued converting to county services would likely cost residents more. Dr. Cronin said shifting services to the county would "cost you more and the town less," and he favored supporting the local department. Bruce Larson called for clearly set service standards so staffing and funding can be planned; Walters said the decision should be decided by voters, not by the sitting commission.

Taxes and budgeting were prominent. Candidates noted the town’s relatively low millage rate compared with nearby municipalities and disagreed about whether rising spending reflects necessary services or expansion of staffing. Dr. Cronin said raising taxes is "anathema" to his candidacy and emphasized hurricane preparedness. Bruce Larson argued the town needs transparent budgeting, measurable outcomes and long-term planning rather than relying on millage talk. Sherry Quarry and Walters emphasized prioritizing essential services and using grants where possible; Walters said town taxes have risen significantly in recent years and cautioned against expanding staff.

Other issues discussed included accessibility and pedestrian safety at the Ocean Avenue crossing (candidates urged coordination with the Florida Department of Transportation, study of best practices and use of grants to improve crossings), zoning protections for oak trees and limits on lot clearing, and three pending lawsuits involving the town (candidates differed on strategy; several said the courts should decide and others said settlement discussions should proceed to identify remedies and goals).

Throughout the forum candidates emphasized restoring civility in town government. Multiple candidates supported a civility pledge, following Robert's Rules of Order and earning residents’ trust through consistent behavior and measured leadership. Steve Walters said decorum requires following existing rules and modeling respectful behavior; Bruce Larson said trust-building and measurable results are central to restoring decorum.

The forum closed with one-minute remarks and reminders to vote on Nov. 4. The League of Women Voters asked attendees to consult vote411.org for full candidate responses to questionnaire items.