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Thad Altman
Thad Altman (born September 8, 1955) is a Republican politician who served as a member of the Florida House of Representatives, representing parts of the Melbourne area in central Brevard County since 2016. Previously, he represented a similar area in the House from 2003 to 2008, and served in the Florida Senate from 2008 to 2016. He currently serves on the Brevard County Commission as chair.
Altman was born in Macon, Georgia in 1955, and moved to Florida in 1957. He attended the University of Houston, where he played baseball, though he ultimately graduated from Brevard Community College with his associate degree and from Rollins College with his bachelor's degree.
In 1984, Altman ran for the Brevard County Commission in the 5th District. He faced Eldon Moen, Norm Crank, and J. Preston Silvernail in the Republican primary, and received the most votes, winning 47% of the vote. However, because no candidate won a majority, Altman and the second-place finisher, Moen, competed in a runoff election that Altman won by a wide margin, receiving 63% of the vote to Moen's 37%. In the general election, Altman was opposed by Ed Rainis, the Democratic nominee. Altman won his first term in a landslide, winning 61% of the vote to Rainis's 39%.
When Altman ran for re-election in 1988, he was opposed by Ed Washburn, a city planner and the Democratic nominee. Altman campaigned on his environmental record, specifically efforts to restrict coastal building, reducing densities on beaches, creating no-wake zones for boats in manatee habitats, and a countywide growth management plan. Washburn attacked Altman for "irresponsibly" squandering the county's $18 million reserve fund, noting, "They've mishandled the financial situation. We need to reduce irresponsible government spending and subsequent tax increases." The Orlando Sentinel endorsed Altman for re-election, citing his "strong pro-environment reputation," though noting that "he must be more decisive in his second term and get [Brevard County] to make some real progress in coping with growth and becoming [financially] solvent." Altman only narrowly won re-election over Washburn, receiving 52% of the vote to Washburn's 48%.
During his second term on the Commission, Altman supported the decision to maintain its county government complex in Viera, and opposed efforts by other county commissioners to withdraw from its lease and to put the question to county voters in a special referendum. The decision to maintain the complex and to not hold a referendum was controversial, and led to Altman's decision not to seek re-election to his County Commission seat in 1992. Instead, Altman ran for Brevard County Supervisor of Elections. He lost in the Republican primary to Fred Galey by a wide margin, winning only 38% of the vote to Galey's 62%. Following his departure from the County Commission, he received a position working in government affairs for the South Brevard Chamber of Commerce.
He ran in 2024 and won beating Democrat Vinnie Taranto Jr 58%-42%. He currently serves as Chair of the Brevard County Commission.
In 2000, following the inability of State Representative Bill Posey to seek re-election due to term limits, Altman ran to succeed him in the 32nd District, which stretched from Orlando to Vero Beach in Brevard, Indian River, and Orange Counties. He faced Bob Allen Pat Harrison, David Hobbs, and Mark Cook in the Republican primary. Allen won the endorsement of the Sentinel, which noted that, although both he and Altman were "well-qualified and have done some serious, substantive thinking about pressing issues facing the state," Allen had the greater "breadth of vision." Though Altman ended up placing first in the primary, winning 28% of the vote to Allen's 23%, because no candidate won a majority, a runoff election was held between the two. This time, however, Altman lost to Allen, winning only 45% of the vote to Allen's 55%.
Following the death of State Senator Howard Futch in 2003, State Representative Mike Haridopolos ran in a special election to succeed him, resigning his House seat in the process. Altman ran in the special election to succeed Haridopolos in the 30th District, based in southern Brevard County. Altman faced a crowded Republican primary, and was opposed by Ritch Workman, Joe Steckler, Palm Bay Mayor Ed Geier, Eric Boritzki, and Jerry M. Abrams. During the primary, Altman campaigned on his support for growth management, environmental protection, and improving public education, noting, "The problem with education is not just a money problem. We need to give teachers the ability to teach to the needs of the students, not the needs of the test." He won the primary by a wide margin, winning 41% of the vote to Workman's 29%, Steckler's 18%, and Geier's 12%, and advanced to the general election, where he faced only Libertarian candidate Bruce Wechsler. Altman won the general election convincingly, receiving 72% of the vote to Wechsler's 28%.
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Thad Altman
Thad Altman (born September 8, 1955) is a Republican politician who served as a member of the Florida House of Representatives, representing parts of the Melbourne area in central Brevard County since 2016. Previously, he represented a similar area in the House from 2003 to 2008, and served in the Florida Senate from 2008 to 2016. He currently serves on the Brevard County Commission as chair.
Altman was born in Macon, Georgia in 1955, and moved to Florida in 1957. He attended the University of Houston, where he played baseball, though he ultimately graduated from Brevard Community College with his associate degree and from Rollins College with his bachelor's degree.
In 1984, Altman ran for the Brevard County Commission in the 5th District. He faced Eldon Moen, Norm Crank, and J. Preston Silvernail in the Republican primary, and received the most votes, winning 47% of the vote. However, because no candidate won a majority, Altman and the second-place finisher, Moen, competed in a runoff election that Altman won by a wide margin, receiving 63% of the vote to Moen's 37%. In the general election, Altman was opposed by Ed Rainis, the Democratic nominee. Altman won his first term in a landslide, winning 61% of the vote to Rainis's 39%.
When Altman ran for re-election in 1988, he was opposed by Ed Washburn, a city planner and the Democratic nominee. Altman campaigned on his environmental record, specifically efforts to restrict coastal building, reducing densities on beaches, creating no-wake zones for boats in manatee habitats, and a countywide growth management plan. Washburn attacked Altman for "irresponsibly" squandering the county's $18 million reserve fund, noting, "They've mishandled the financial situation. We need to reduce irresponsible government spending and subsequent tax increases." The Orlando Sentinel endorsed Altman for re-election, citing his "strong pro-environment reputation," though noting that "he must be more decisive in his second term and get [Brevard County] to make some real progress in coping with growth and becoming [financially] solvent." Altman only narrowly won re-election over Washburn, receiving 52% of the vote to Washburn's 48%.
During his second term on the Commission, Altman supported the decision to maintain its county government complex in Viera, and opposed efforts by other county commissioners to withdraw from its lease and to put the question to county voters in a special referendum. The decision to maintain the complex and to not hold a referendum was controversial, and led to Altman's decision not to seek re-election to his County Commission seat in 1992. Instead, Altman ran for Brevard County Supervisor of Elections. He lost in the Republican primary to Fred Galey by a wide margin, winning only 38% of the vote to Galey's 62%. Following his departure from the County Commission, he received a position working in government affairs for the South Brevard Chamber of Commerce.
He ran in 2024 and won beating Democrat Vinnie Taranto Jr 58%-42%. He currently serves as Chair of the Brevard County Commission.
In 2000, following the inability of State Representative Bill Posey to seek re-election due to term limits, Altman ran to succeed him in the 32nd District, which stretched from Orlando to Vero Beach in Brevard, Indian River, and Orange Counties. He faced Bob Allen Pat Harrison, David Hobbs, and Mark Cook in the Republican primary. Allen won the endorsement of the Sentinel, which noted that, although both he and Altman were "well-qualified and have done some serious, substantive thinking about pressing issues facing the state," Allen had the greater "breadth of vision." Though Altman ended up placing first in the primary, winning 28% of the vote to Allen's 23%, because no candidate won a majority, a runoff election was held between the two. This time, however, Altman lost to Allen, winning only 45% of the vote to Allen's 55%.
Following the death of State Senator Howard Futch in 2003, State Representative Mike Haridopolos ran in a special election to succeed him, resigning his House seat in the process. Altman ran in the special election to succeed Haridopolos in the 30th District, based in southern Brevard County. Altman faced a crowded Republican primary, and was opposed by Ritch Workman, Joe Steckler, Palm Bay Mayor Ed Geier, Eric Boritzki, and Jerry M. Abrams. During the primary, Altman campaigned on his support for growth management, environmental protection, and improving public education, noting, "The problem with education is not just a money problem. We need to give teachers the ability to teach to the needs of the students, not the needs of the test." He won the primary by a wide margin, winning 41% of the vote to Workman's 29%, Steckler's 18%, and Geier's 12%, and advanced to the general election, where he faced only Libertarian candidate Bruce Wechsler. Altman won the general election convincingly, receiving 72% of the vote to Wechsler's 28%.
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