Michelle SpitzerFlorida Today
Rita Pritchett and Lisa Cullen agree that a top priority of public servants should be meeting the needs of citizens as Brevard County grows.
The two women are facing off against each other on Aug. 20 in the Republican primary for Brevard County tax collector, a position Cullen has held since 2009. The winner will move on to the Nov. 5 general election, facing a write-in candidate whose name will not appear on the ballot.
While Cullen and Pritchett see eye-to-eye on assisting residents as Brevard grows, they differ on other issues, such as term limits for countywide elected officials, including the position they are running for.
Everything to know about elections: Here's your ultimate voter guide to 2024 elections, candidates, issues in Brevard County
Pritchett, a resident of Titusville, is finishing up her second term as county commissioner, where she has represented North Brevard District 1 since 2016, and cannot seek reelection as a commissioner because of term limits.
Back in February, Pritchett proposed limiting constitutional officers to three four-year terms. The issue died when her fellow commissioners did not second her motion to put the proposal on the ballot for voters to decide.
Due to term limits, Pritchett’s tenure on the County Commission will end in November. She previously served on the Titusville City Council.
Cullen, a Canaveral Groves resident, has served as Brevard’s tax collector since 2009. She has won three unopposed elections since then. Prior to leading the agency, she worked in the Tax Collector's Office for decades.
She told FLORIDA TODAY she does think term limits are a good idea for some elected positions, but not for the five constitutional offices ― clerk of court/comptroller, property appraiser, sheriff, supervisor of elections and tax collector.
“We are here to run an office and provide services to the community,” Cullen said. “A state legislator doesn’t have to oversee a staff of 207 like myself. This is not an easy job to step into. Training is like drinking from a fire hose because of all the things you have to learn about, because we service so many different state agencies.”
The tax collector position pays an annual salary of $184,356 and has a four-year term.
Write-in candidate impact
Because there is a write-in candidate, under state election law, only Republicans can vote in the GOP primary for tax collector. Had there been only Republicans running and no write-in candidate, the primary would have been open to all voters, including Democrats, members of minor political parties and "no party affiliation" voters.
The write-in candidate, Daniel Edwin Lopez, filed paperwork to run right before the deadline. Lopez is a 27-year-old Cocoa resident with no political experience.
Lopez previously told FLORIDA TODAY he had no plans to fund-raise and said his campaign strategy involved "some petitioning." A former U.S. Marine, Lopez told FLORIDA TODAY he had an interest in running for office since he was a child. But reporters found no evidence that Lopez has ever been politically active or even voted in an election.
Lopez is connected to Pritchett through their mutual association with New Life Space Coast Church in Titusville, where Pritchett has long served as an administrator and radio host, and Lopez works as a youth minister, according tohis LinkedIn page.
He previously downplayed their association, and denied being asked to run by Pritchett or anyone in her orbit as a so-called "ghost candidate," who enter races to close primaries.
"This was purely an influence in thought from the man up above," he said.
What candidates see as the top issues in the campaign
Cullen: According to a questionnaire filled out by Cullen, these are her top priorities:
"Brevard County is growing at a fast pace and meeting the needs of our citizens remains my top priority.Assuring that existing services are accessible, expanding and offering new services, and ensuring the Tax Collector’s Office continues to work seamlessly with other government offices are priorities as well.As an agent of the state of Florida and as a constitutional officer, my office must exchange information with various state agencies, the office of the property appraiser, and the clerk of the court and comptroller regularly."
Cullen told FLORIDA TODAY her plans include reopening the Indian Harbour Beach Tax Collector Office, which was closed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
She also would like to streamline as many services online as possible.
“The only thing you would have to come into the office for is to get or renew a driver’s license,” Cullen said.
Pritchett: According to a questionnaire filled out by Pritchett, these are her top three issues:
"Public service is a top priority for Brevard County citizens.The population is growing, and so must the support offices to meet the needs of our citizens.
"Efficiency and communication to the community and other agencies with full transparency at the lowest cost to our taxpayers.
"Terms limits for all elected officials, I will make it a priority to have term limits brought to the ballot for voters to place limits on offices of elected officials.Winning an election should not be a lifetime appointment."
Pritchett has indicated on her campaign mailings and website that she is “tired of paying higher taxes.”
However, the Tax Collector’s Office has no role in setting tax rates.
Campaign cash/notable endorsem*nts
Cullen: $64,812.44 in contributions, plus $1,101.96 in in-kind contributions, and $57,495.27 spent through Aug. 2.
Cullen donated $2,000 to her own campaign. Among the outside donations to her campaign were from Public Defender Blaise Trettis; lobbyist Guy Spearman; companies connected with former Florida House Speaker Steve Crisafulli, Brevard County Commissioner Tom Goodson and Canaveral Port Authority Chairman Micah Loyd; and several real estate political action committees.
Cullen lists among her endorsem*nts: Business Voice Political Committee, Space Coast Association of Realtors, Home Builders & Contractors Association, and radio political talk show host Bill Mick.
Pritchett: $46,121 in contributions, plus $1,449.19 in in-kind contributions, and $26,050.01 spent through Aug. 2.
Pritchett donated $20,501 to her own campaign. Among the outside donations to her campaign were from companies connected with former Brevard County Commissioner Robin Fisher, lobbyists Ronald Book and Kendall Moore, Crisafulli and Loyd.
Spitzer is a trending reporter. She can be reached at Mspitzer@Floridatoday.com. Eric Rogers contributed to this report.
More on the candidates
Lisa Cullen
Age: 59
Occupation: She began working at the Tax Collector’s Office when she was 19, and has served as Brevard County’s tax collector since 2009.
Education:
University of Central Florida, Bachelor of Science in business administration in accounting, May 1990
Brevard Community College, Associate in Arts in general studies, December 1985
Rollins College, computer information systems, 36 semester hours completed
Political/government/civic experience: Brevard County tax collector since 2009.
Campaign email:Lisa@ElectLisaCullen.com
Campaign phone number:321-302-0005
Website or FaceBook page:www.ElectLisaCullen.comor Lisa Cullen for Tax Collector
Rita Pritchett
Age: 64
Occupation: Certified public accountant, administrator, professor, county commissioner
Education:
Master of Science in accounting, University of Central Florida
Bachelor's degree in business, University of Central Florida
Certified public accountant licensed in the state of Florida
Political/government/civic experience: Two terms on Titusville City Council; two terms on Brevard County Commission
Campaign email: Rita.Pritchett@yahoo.com
Campaign phone number: 321-223-8774
Website or Facebook page: ritapritchett.com
