SPACE COAST, FLORIDA.The Space Coast Rocket invited candidates to answer a questionnaire in their own words. Below are the responses from Darcia Bair, candidate for Titusville City Council, Seat 1. Her answers are published verbatim.
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About the Candidate
Name on ballot
Darcia Bair
Office
Titusville City Council, Seat 1
Race
Nonpartisan (municipal)
Held elected office before
No
Political, Civic, or Community Experience
For more than 13 years, I have been deeply involved in supporting Titusville families; especially mothers. I served as the Coordinator for Titusville MOPS (now MomCo) for over four years, where I led monthly meetings, built a leadership team, and expanded opportunities for connection by launching evening meetings for local moms. As leader of Titusville MOPS, I facilitated the donation of four infant mannequins to the Titusville Fire Department to aid in their infant CPR training program.
I also co-founded and continue to help lead “Let Mommy Have a Minute,” a local North Brevard mom community created to meet the real, everyday needs of women seeking support, connection, and encouragement. What started as a simple idea has grown into a meaningful network for countless families. I regularly host a community donation event called the Take Me Table at local parks where families can donate what they don’t need and can leave with new items.
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In 2021, I began volunteering with Lasagna Love, preparing and delivering meals to families in need. Through this effort, and with the help of my church and local volunteers, I have been able to serve more than 150 families in our area. This experience has reinforced what I have always believed: when we come together as a community, we can meet real needs and make a lasting impact.
1. Why are you running?
I have been a community leader focusing on building a welcoming and inclusive space for local mothers and caretakers for 13 years. I am running for Titusville City Council Seat 1 because I want to make a bigger difference, and have a wider impact on the community. I see that we have a leadership problem in Titusville and I would like to be a part of the solution. I want to bring integrity, accountability, and transparency to the Titusville City Council and I believe I am the candidate to do it!
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2. What are your top three priorities if elected?
My top three priorities if elected are transparency, accountability, and environmental responsibility.
I believe we need more transparency and accountability from Titusville City leadership. This will include a forensic audit, which at the bare minimum will need to go back at least two years. I believe our internal auditor has been sending audits to the City Manager for several years. To my knowledge, they’ve never been shared with the city council, nor were the city council made aware such forms existed. The process has since been changed to require the city manager to provide the internal audits to the city council, moving forward. I believe this new approach will create the transparency this city needs. I realize forensic audits are expensive but we don’t even know how much we’ve lost!
I think we need to truly look into what work needs to be done at the Osprey Water Treatment plant. This facility sits right in the Indian River Lagoon, and it’s the plant in need of the most repairs. We may even need to look into relocating it off the IRL in the future. I believe we’ve put bandages on that plant for far too long. I look forward to learning more about how we can update our city’s infrastructure to better suit the changing needs of our community, especially in regards to stormwater management. The flooding that affected north Titusville last hurricane season is still problematic. I would love an opportunity to work with the county on stormwater drain management.
3. What is the single biggest problem facing the people this office serves, and how would you address it?
I believe there are many important issues in our community, and the multitude of diverse perspectives of our citizens are so important. I have spoken with many community members about the issues important to them. I have heard from senior citizens who are concerned with the rising cost of living, as well as parents who are struggling to keep their children’s bellies full. I want to find ways that the city can help these families. I want to be a representative for all of the voices in Titusville, to enact real change along with updating the failing infrastructure of our city.
4. How will you keep constituents informed and involved in your decisions?
I aim to make myself readily available to the public. I attend many in person local events, and I plan to provide rationale for my votes after the fact. I intend to be available for one on one meetings by appointment, and as often as needed!
5. Why are you a better choice than your opponents?
I will bring a fresh perspective to the city council. While I have never held office, I have been attending the local city council meetings for the last two years and have always been publicly engaged in local politics. If I cannot attend in person, I always watch the livestream available on Youtube. I strive to include those who may not feel like they have a representative who understands them. I am not afraid to speak up and ask questions. In my many years of work as a community leader, I have been the voice for people who sometimes go unseen in our area. My service to our community represents my true heart, dedication, and the love I have for this great city and its residents.
Anything else you’d like voters to know?
I am excited to learn and grow in my understanding of the everyday operations of our city. I am not naive to the fact that there will be a learning gap, but I look forward to it! I am willing to take on the challenges of managing the new growth of our city and the journey ahead, for the greater good of our community. I want to be the voice for the average citizen in the city of Titusville. Remember to vote in the primary on August 18th!
