Good Morning, Sunland
It’s Wednesday! and super excited to have you here.
Really quick, just wanted to point you to maybe give the Facebook or Instagram a follow. Not because you don't already get all the information here, but on the different social platforms, we're sharing video clips from meetings and other context that makes the stories even more powerful. So just want to point you to give our socials a follow.
💜 People Pass Shoutout: Thank you to everyone supporting the newsletter! If you want to help keep this going, support here.
Alright, let's jump right in!
⛅ Weather Update: Mixed clouds and sun.
☀️ Day: High of 81°F | A mix of clouds and sun. 5% chance of rain.
🌙 Night: Low of 67°F | Cloudy skies. Winds light and variable. 15% chance of rain.
🌅 Sunrise: 6:35 AM | 🌇 Sunset: 5:34 PM
🌙 Moonrise: 5:34 PM | 🌚 Moonset: 6:37 AM
🎶 Sounds like: "Adorn" — Miguel
Ja’Min Devon
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🗳️ Main Squeeze: Fort Pierce District 2 Heads to Runoff Election
Quick note: I don't typically cover politics or crime, however, for educational purposes on this special election, I wanted to do a quick breakdown for what happens next for the district 2 seat in Fort Pierce.
What happened: No candidate reached the 50% plus one threshold needed to win Fort Pierce's District 2 special election Tuesday, triggering a runoff between the top two vote-getters.
The numbers:
Chris Dzadovsky: 1,034 votes (39.92%)
Jaimebeth Galinis: 796 votes (30.73%)
Donna Benton: 760 votes (29.34%)
Total turnout: 19.78% (2,592 ballots cast out of 13,106 registered voters)
The runoff: Chris Dzadovsky and Jaimebeth Galinis will face off January 13th, 2026. That means the District 2 seat will remain vacant for nearly six months total.
Context on turnout: While 19.78% seems low, it's actually a 73% increase from the last Fort Pierce special election in 2021, which saw just 11.46% turnout. Special elections historically draw much lower participation than general elections.
What's next: I'll continue sharing informative updates, especially for District 2 residents, and keeping Fort Pierce and St. Lucie County informed as we head toward the January runoff.
🍊 Press Round: Roads, Ranks & Residents
🚗 Indian River Hands 16 Miles of Roads to State
Indian River County commissioners voted to transfer control of County Roads 510, 512, and 606 (Oslo Road) to the Florida Department of Transportation, shifting maintenance costs and future improvements to the state. The deal includes two railroad crossings and takes effect in early 2026 once state officials sign off.
👮 Fort Pierce Police Chief Search Heats Up
Fort Pierce City Manager Richard Chess will start interviewing candidates this week from a pool of 57 applicants for police chief. The position offers $128,250 to $212,000 after former Chief Diane Hobley-Burney resigned in May following a no-confidence vote.
📊 Martin County Growth Slower Than It Feels
Martin County's population grew just 1.23% in 2024, staying below 2% annual growth for five straight years despite residents feeling overwhelmed by development. County planners say there's enough residential capacity for the next 20 years as commissioners prepare to debate expanding the Urban Service District on November 18.
🎉 The Weekender: 7 Events to Check Out This Weekend!
Friday, Nov 7
🎶 Food Trucks & Tributes: Start Me Up! – Rolling Stones tribute band with food trucks at Tradition Square. Free concert. | Trucks 5 PM, concert 6 PM | Free | Details
🎉 Friday Fest – Food, live music, and family fun at Marina Square in Fort Pierce. | Check time (3 hrs) | Free | Details
🎤 Shwayze with The Quasi Kings & Twin Fin – Live hip-hop and reggae fusion at Terra Fermata Tiki Bar in Stuart. Rain or shine. | Check time | Ticketed | Details
Saturday, Nov 8
🎤 A Tribute to Michael Jackson – Danny Ware performs MJ's greatest hits including Thriller, Billie Jean, and Beat It at 500 Orange Event Venue in Fort Pierce. Doors 7 PM. | 8–9 PM | $42.30 | Details
🛍️ ShopAPalooza Fall Sidewalk Sale – Dozens of shops offer major markdowns on clothes, shoes, accessories, home goods, and more in Historic Downtown Stuart. (Runs Nov 8–9) | 10 AM–5 PM | Free | Details
💃 Community African Dance Classes – Learn traditional African dances at We've Got H.E.A.R.T. Studios in Fort Pierce. Sign up at 772-284-9171. Multiple dates. | Check time | Donation | Details
🎶 LOVERS & FRIEND | SOULS MEET LOVER'S ROCK – R&B, reggae, and Lover's Rock music for lovers and friends. Ages 18+. | 10 PM–2 AM | $17.85 | Details
Want more events? Go here
⚽ Press Round: Port St. Lucie Approves
Soccer Stadium Despite Pushback
What happened: Port St. Lucie City Council and CRA unanimously approved the professional soccer stadium deal Tuesday night after hours of contentious public comment.
The deal:
$80 million stadium at Walton & One
City reimburses up to $27.5 million over 20 years from CRA funds
Target completion: 2027
USL League One team
The pushback: Residents raised concerns about traffic, noise, and taxpayer costs throughout the meeting. See resident concerns here.
City's response: Officials emphasized the money comes from CRA funds, not the general fund. They also noted most games happen on Saturdays and said the city will address traffic and noise concerns with provisions in place.
What's next: Construction expected to begin soon with a 2027 opening target.
Shoutout: Big thanks to J'Quan for showing up and capturing amazing photos from the meeting.
📸 Last Drop: 3 Quick Stories To Go!
🏠 Fort Pierce launches foreclosure prevention programs – City opens $356k in housing assistance January 5th for income-eligible homeowners. Programs cover foreclosure help and home repairs on first-come basis. Housing aid
🚗 New Bev Smith Kia showroom coming to Fort Pierce – 40,791-square-foot dealership approved for US 1 South across from current location. Complex includes showroom, repair facility, car wash and 487 parking spaces. Auto expansion
✈️ Stuart Air Show may lose military jets – Weekend event at Witham Field could drop F-35 and F-18 demos if shutdown continues. 12+ civilian performers still scheduled including MiG-17 and drone shows. Air show update
📸 This is Sunland: Photo Finish!
One of my favorite photos I've ever taken. If I had one photo to sum up Sunland News, okay I lied. If I had five photos to sum up Sunland News, this would definitely be one of them. Just love seeing art that reflects the city and the county that I love. Alright…
See you tomorrow!
With Love, Ja’Min
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