I wish you a fun and safe Halloween. A few safety reminders include carrying glow sticks, flashlights, and reflective tape on costumes and bags while out trick-or-treating.

Governor DeSantis announced that Florida’s September job growth rate is three times faster than the national rate. The Leisure and Hospitality sector gained the most jobs with 26,600 new jobs added. Florida’s labor force added 50,000 workers over the month.

For more information, click here.

I consider it a great honor to represent District 17. Please share this link with your friends and family so that they too can sign up for the Mayfield Minute.

Governor DeSantis issued a proclamation announcing that the Special Session to provide protections for Floridians impacted by federal overreach will begin on November 15, 2021, and go no later than November 19, 2021.

Florida Senate President Wilton Simpson and House Speaker Chris Sprowls issued the following joint statement regarding the upcoming special session of the Florida Legislature.

"Over the last two years, Floridians have watched the freedoms of our friends and relatives in other states get stripped away one at a time. We will not stand by as the Biden Administration imposes an illegal and unconstitutional nationwide vaccine mandate that robs the American people of the dignity of work. Under the leadership of Governor DeSantis and the Florida Legislature, Florida has been a beacon of hope, and we intend to keep it that way. We look forward to working with Governor DeSantis and our colleagues to craft, debate and pass thoughtful legislation that keeps Florida open for business and prioritizes people, parents and businesses over government. During the special session, we will do everything within our power as a state to protect Floridians from the unconstitutional, un-American, and morally reprehensible overreaches on the part of the federal government.”

On Monday, Governor DeSantis was joined by representatives of three Florida-based businesses — Tervis, PGT Innovations, and Anna Maria Oyster Bar — to highlight the recent success of Florida’s job market and support Florida-based companies. Florida’s economy gained 84,500 jobs in the month of September, including nearly 73,000 private-sector jobs. September also marked 17 months of private-sector job growth, increasing by 5.6% year over year. Florida has only experienced this magnitude of monthly private-sector job growth on four occasions in the past 30 years.

“Business is booming in Florida, and today I was proud to highlight the continued growth of Florida’s economy alongside three Florida-based businesses,” said Governor DeSantis. “Florida has reached a level of job growth only seen on four occasions in the past 30 years, despite concerning federal actions causing economic uncertainty. We are outpacing the nation because Florida is investing in real infrastructure, investing in workforce development, and standing up for businesses. We will continue to work hard to keep Florida open, free, and built for the opportunity.”

To watch the press conference, click here.

Governor DeSantis announced a lawsuit against the Biden Administration’s order requiring employees of federal contractors to be vaccinated by December 8th, 2021. The lawsuit seeks an immediate end to the unlawful requirement that federal contractors ensure that all employees have received a mandated injection.

“Just months ago Joe Biden was saying that it wouldn’t be appropriate or lawful for the federal government to mandate these COVID shots,” said Governor DeSantis. “But now we have somehow gone from 15 days to slow the spread to 3 jabs to keep your job. The federal government is exceeding their power and it is important for us to take a stand because in Florida we believe these are choices based on individual circumstances.”

To read the lawsuit, click here.

The State Board of Education approved a new rule impacting civic education in public schools. The rule, which centers in part on teaching students about characteristics that make an “upright and desirable” citizen, is the culmination of legislation passed by during the 2021 Legislative Session. The approved rule directs the Florida Department of Education to require that students understand the nation’s founding documents. It also involves instilling patriotic values in schoolchildren. According to the rule, traits of a desirable citizen include respect for “the military, elected officials, civic leaders, public servants, and all those who have defended the blessings of liberty in pursuit of the common good, even at personal risk.” The rule also requires that students be taught “how political ideologies, such as communism and totalitarianism, conflict with the principles of freedom and democracy essential to preserving the United States constitutional republic.”

As the weather cools and water temperatures lower in October and November, manatees outside of Florida begin their annual migratory route back to Florida. From November through March, manatees are found in Florida’s warm-water refuges, such as natural springs with constant warm temperatures, or power plant discharge areas. The aquatic mammals can live in fresh or saltwater, but they cannot tolerate water temperatures below 68° F for long periods of time. Prolonged exposure to cold water can cause sickness or even death in manatees, called “cold stress syndrome”.

According to Patrick Rose, Aquatic Biologist and Executive Director for Save the Manatee Club, feeding manatees may encourage them to seek out more handouts instead of moving about on their journeys to Florida. “This can be detrimental to the manatee if the temperature drops too quickly, and it hasn’t made it to warm water in time,” he explains. Manatees that are fed are also more likely to approach boats or docks expecting food, which makes them susceptible to injury, death, or harassment.

Florida residents and those visiting must refrain from feeding, giving water to, or harassing manatees that are migrating to Florida for the winter season. These actions are illegal and can harm manatees. Boaters are also reminded to watch for manatees and adhere to posted speed zones.

According to Save the Manatee Club, instead of feeding or giving water to manatees, below are helpful tips to protect manatees as they migrate this fall season.

This week, our constituent of the week is Lynda Weatherman. Ms. Weatherman is a native Floridian and the current president & CEO of the Economic Development Commission of Florida’s Space Coast. Ms. Weatherman has a bachelor's degree from the University of South Florida and Masters degrees from the University of Southern Mississippi and the University of Hong Kong. In her role, Ms. Weatherman oversees the economic development of an over 1,500 square mile territory, including all of Brevard County. She is primarily responsible for generating new endeavors and the retention of the existing industry while keeping up to date on laws and regulations affecting economic development. Under Ms. Weatherman’s leadership, the EDC’s recent accomplishments include $1.8B in capital investment. These investments include over 50 new business development projects over a ten-year period, the attainment of the assembly and checkout of NASA’s Crew Exploration Vehicle, and the facilitation of the first-ever Space Act agreement between Kennedy Space Center and an economic development organization.

Ms. Weatherman assumed her current position with the EDC of Florida’s Space Coast in August of 1994. Prior to this, she held leadership posts with the Florida Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Economic Analysis, Gainesville Chamber of Commerce, and Marion County Economic Development Agency. In January of 2009, Weatherman was appointed to serve a three-year term on the prestigious board of directors of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta’s Jacksonville Branch. In 2007, Ms. Weatherman received the NASA Distinguished Public Service Medal, the highest honor NASA awards to both government and non-government employees. In 2005, she facilitated the first-ever Space Act Agreement between Kennedy Space Center and an economic development organization. As a proud supporter of veterans, Lynda was appointed by then-Senate President Bill Galvano to the Veterans Florida Board in 2019.

Other recent accomplishments include the attraction of Boeing Space and Launch Headquarters, Lockheed Martin Fleet Ballistic Missile Headquarters, Blue Origin’s manufacturing and processing facility for its Orbital Launch Vehicle, RUAG Space USA, Inc., and the expansions of Embraer, Thales, and Northrop Grumman.

When she isn’t busy supporting the economic development of the Space Coast, Ms. Weatherman is an avid lover of history and reading.

Thank you, Linda weatherman, for your continued support of our economy here on the Space Coast. District 17 is privileged to have you as a positive member of the community.

Palm Bay Veterans Day Parade 

The City of Palm Bay will host the annual Palm Bay Veterans Day Parade on Saturday, November 6th. The parade will start at City Hall at 9 a.m. and head east on Malabar Road to Emerson Drive. It will then head south on Emerson and end at Copley Street. There will be viewing areas for the public in the median of Malabar Road as well as along the sidewalk on the south side of Malabar Road.

Airport officials, construction teams and community leaders celebrated the progress of Melbourne Orlando International Airport’s Terminal Renovation & Expansion Project with a Topping Out Ceremony on Wednesday. MLB’s $72 million Terminal Renovation and Expansion Project includes the addition of 86,000 square feet of new facilities, featuring a new security checkpoint, an expanded departure area with new gates, restaurants, retail options and furniture, an expanded international baggage claim, a new welcome center, and four sets of new restroom facilities.

Two teams claimed district championships in Brevard County high school football on Friday. The Melbourne High School Bulldogs beat the Viera High School Hawks by 10 points earning the team a District 7-7A title. The Merritt Island High School Mustangs played the Satellite High School Scorpions. The Mustangs beat the Scorpions ending the game with a 20 to 7 score. The Merritt Island Mustangs earned a District 8-5A title. 

On Thursday, the Indian River County Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual 2021 Industry Appreciation Awards highlighting local companies and non-profit organizations that powered through the pandemic in remarkable ways. Congratulations to the following companies and individuals on all of their hard work!

Quail Valley Golf Club, River Club and The Point (75+ employees)

Molinari Pools (25-75 employees)

Lulich & Attorneys (under 25 employees)

Postal Connections - Marc J. Richard, Owner

KSM Engineering & Testing – Ms. Julie Keller, President of KSM

Janice and Steve Milesic, owners of Mattress Market 

A monument to honor World War I Veterans is being established on Vero Beach's Veterans Memorial Island. The monument will feature a statue of a World War 1 “doughboy” mounted on a four-foot pedestal. “Doughboy” is the nickname given to American soldiers in WW1. The monument will be dedicated in a ceremony on November 11th, exactly 103 years after the official end of World War 1.

The project is being led by John Michael Matthews, a member of the Marine Corps League, retired Air Force Colonel Carlos Halcomb, and retired Marine Corps Colonel Michael DiScipio. Both leaders are members of the Indian River Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America.

The monument was funded entirely with private donations. After the dedication, ownership of and responsibility for the monument will be turned over to the city.

The public is invited to the monument dedication ceremony on November 11th at 9 a.m. at the Veterans Memorial Island Sanctuary located at 100 Dahlia Lane, Vero Beach.

Indian River County will hold a redistricting workshop on Monday, November 1, 2021, at 6:00 p.m. in room #1 of the Cis & Bill Glavin Educational Center, which is located adjacent to the Gifford Youth Achievement Center at 4889 43rd Ave, Vero Beach, FL 32967.

During the meeting, IRC staff will provide a presentation on the three redistricting map proposals that were presented to the IRC Board of County Commissioners at their recent meeting on October 19, 2021. Staff will also share the revised map proposal based on feedback received at the October 19th meeting. During the meeting, members of the public will have an opportunity to provide input on the proposed maps and the redistricting process.

To view the three proposed redistricting maps, click here.

The redistricting meeting is available for participants to attend in person or via Zoom:

The Indian River County (IRC) Public Works Coastal Engineering Division announced that construction for the Sector 3 Phase 2 Beach and Dune Restoration Project will begin on November 1, 2021, and run through April 30, 2022.

For more information, click here.

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