November 8, 2026 - Veterans Day!

The Mayfield Minute - November 8, 2026

Good Morning!

Celebrating Veterans Day and the Birthday of the United States Marine Corps

Fighting on the Western Front of World War I officially ended when the armistice agreement went into effect at 11:00 a.m. on November 11, 1918 (the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month). The following year, President Woodrow Wilson officially recognized the first Armistice Day, honoring all those who fought to bring an end to the “Great War.”

For the American public, Armistice Day provided an opportunity to celebrate through parades and gatherings, while also mourning and remembering those who sacrificed their lives in service to our nation.

An act of Congress approved a tomb to be built in honor of “an unknown American warrior who in himself represents no section, creed, or race in the late war and who typifies, moreover, the soul of America and the supreme sacrifice of her heroic dead.” As a result, The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was opened at Arlington National Cemetery on the third Armistice Day in 1921.

In 1954, following the return of service personnel from both World War II and the Korean War, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed a bill rededicating November 11th as Veterans Day. Ever since, Americans have used the day to commit themselves to the cause of peace and to honor American Veterans of all wars.

Additionally, I would like to recognize that this week will mark the 251st birthday of the United States Marine Corps. The branch was established on November 10, 1775, by a Resolution of the Second Continental Congress, for the purpose of establishing two battalions of Marines for naval service during the Revolutionary War.

Thank you to all our nation’s Veterans and active-duty service members. You have demonstrated courage, sacrifice, and patriotism by protecting Americans at home and abroad. You will never be forgotten.

I consider it a great honor to represent District 19. Please share this link with your friends and family so they too, can sign up for the Mayfield Minute.

If you or someone you know needs my assistance, please do not hesitate to contact my office at (321) 409-2025. My staff and I are here to serve you!

Floridian Making an Impact

Governor-Elect Byron Donalds

This week, I’m proud to highlight United States Congressman and Governor-elect of Florida Byron Donalds.

Governor-elect Donalds was born in Brooklyn, New York. He moved to Florida in 1997 and began attending Florida A&M University in Tallahassee. He transferred to Florida State University, where he graduated in 2002 with a bachelor's degree in finance and marketing.

After graduating, Governor-elect Donalds moved to Southwest Florida and began his career in the financial services industry. In 2003, he became a credit analyst at TIB Bank and ultimately took a position as a portfolio manager at CMG Surety LLC in 2007. After eight years in that role, he joined Wells Fargo Bank as a financial advisor.

In 2003, Governor-elect Donalds married his wife, Erika. For as long as I have known them, the couple has been deeply engaged on education issues including school choice and parental rights. They have three sons, Damon, Darin, and Mason.

In 2016, Governor-elect Donalds was elected to the Florida House of Representatives, where I had the honor of serving with him for four years. During his tenure, he chaired the House Insurance and Banking Subcommittee and the PreK-12 Quality Subcommittee.

Governor-elect Donalds was first elected to the United States House of Representatives in 2020. As a member of Congress, he has served on the Committee on Financial Services and the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

In Congress, he sponsored the STARS Act of 2026. This legislation establishes that the newly formed United States Space Academy be located on Florida’s Space Coast. I am deeply grateful to Governor-elect Donalds for filing this important legislation and look forward to continuing to work together on bringing the Space Academy to Florida’s Space Coast, where it belongs.

This past week, he was elected Florida’s 47th Governor and will be sworn into office on Tuesday, January 5, 2027.

I want to congratulate Governor-elect Donalds on his election as Florida’s 47th Governor. I look forward to all the great work that we will accomplish together!

Statewide Update

Florida Honors Veterans Day and Veterans Appreciation Month

Last week, Governor Ron DeSantis signed a proclamation for Veterans Day and Veterans Appreciation Month in Florida. This proclamation honors the nearly 1.4 million Veterans in Florida, including more than 65,000 right here in Brevard County.

The proclamation recognizes Florida’s network of 10 Honor Flight hubs, which provide Veterans with the opportunity to travel to Washington, D.C., at no cost, to visit the memorials built in their honor.

I want to thank Governor DeSantis for this recognition, as well as the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs for their continued commitment to ensuring Florida’s Veterans are connected with the services, benefits, and the support they deserve.

Brevard County is home to Space Coast Honor Flight, which flies out of the Melbourne Orlando International Airport, and helps our local heroes experience this meaningful journey of remembrance and recognition. Over the past few years, I have been proud to support this organization and I encourage everyone to learn more about Honor Flight and consider how you can support their mission.

To read the Governor’s full proclamation, click here. For more information on our local Space Coast Honor Flight, click here

November is Manatee Awareness Month

November is Manatee Awareness Month, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is reminding Floridians and visitors to be extra cautious as manatees begin their seasonal movements toward warmer waters.

“Manatees rely on warm water sites to survive the winter, seeking refuge at Florida’s springs, power plant discharge areas and other warm water sites when water temperatures drop below 68 degrees Fahrenheit,” said Ashley LaVere, FWC’s Manatee Management Program Coordinator. “Boaters and personal watercraft users may be more likely to encounter manatees as they make their way to their winter habits, so awareness of how to keep manatees safe while on the water is key.”

As manatees may be difficult to see in certain waterways, FWC advises boaters to wear polarized glasses, slow down, and adhere to all manatee protection zones. Manatee protection zones are noticeably marked by waterway signs.

FWC also advises spectators to avoid disturbing manatees as they hover in groups to stay warm. Doing so may cause them to swim out of protected areas into colder water which can be life-threatening.

If you see an injured, distressed, sick, or deceased manatee, report it to the FWC’s Wildlife Alert Hotline at (888) 404-FWCC (3922) so that trained responders can assist.

To identify manatee protection zones, click here.

Insurance Rates Decrease for Over 820,000 Florida Homeowners

Last week, Florida Insurance Commissioner Mike Yaworsky announced that more than 824,300 Florida homeowners with new policies or renewals effective last month, can anticipate rate reductions as high as 12.1%.

Companies included in latest round of decreases include:

Cypress P&C
Manatee Insurance Exchange
Kin Insurance
Castle Key Indemnity
Castle Key Insurance
Universal P&C
Security First
Mangrove Insurance
Olympus Insurance

Additionally, the Office of Insurance Regulation is reviewing multiple rate decrease requests from major insurers. An estimated 450,000 more Floridians are projected to benefit from pending decreases taking effect in the coming months.

Since January 2024, 48 companies have filed for decreases while 53 have requested no rate change or a 0% increase. These positive market trends can be attributed to the recent reforms by the Florida Legislature.

I look forward to working alongside Commissioner Yaworsky and my colleagues in the Legislature to continue addressing the cost of insurance and ensure the availability of coverage for Florida families.

For highlights on Florida’s insurance market, click here.

Constituent of the Week

Major Richard "Rick" Bedford, United States Marine Corps (RET)

In recognition of Veterans’ Day and the 251st Birthday of the United States Marine Corps (USMC), I am pleased to highlight Major Richard “Rick” Bedford, United States Marine Corps (RET) as my Constituent of the Week.

Major Bedford was born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama. In 1981, after graduating from high school at age 17, he enlisted in the USMC and began training at Parris Island, South Carolina. After basic training, Major Bedford began a 25-year career of active-duty service in the Marine Corps.

After nine years of enlisted service, including a tour of recruiting duty, he was selected for the Warrant Officer program in 1990, ultimately achieving the rank of CWO4 in 1999.

He was selected for the Limited Duty Officer program at the rank of Captain in 2009 and was assigned to the Logistics Division at Marine Corps Combat Center at Twentynine Palms, California. From there, he transferred to the 3rd Force Service Support Group in Okinawa, Japan. In 2004, he was promoted to the rank of Major and assigned to be the Director of the Marine Corps Food Service Program at USMC Headquarters, a Lieutenant Colonel billet.

From June 2005 to October 2006, Major Bedford served as the Commanding Officer for the USMC Detachment at Fort Lee, Virginia. He retired from military service in October 2006 and worked as a Program Manager at the USMC Headquarters in Washington, DC from 2006 to 2008.

In 2008, Major Bedford was hired as the Chief Recruiter for the Defense Contract Management Agency, where he was responsible for planning, managing, and overseeing the agency’s recruitment, talent acquisition, and workforce development programs.

In 2011, after years of enduring cold winters, Major Bedford moved to Florida and became the Human Resources Director for the Air Force Technical Applications Center at Patrick Space Force Base. He officially retired from his second career in 2018.

In 2019, he began volunteering with the Marine Corps League (MCL), a congressionally charted organization dedicated to supporting marines, their families, and the traditions of the USMC. He currently holds a statewide elected office as the MCL Judge Advocate for the Department of Florida. He is the past commandant for the MCL Brevard County Detachment 513 and has served as the Chair of the annual Marine Corps Birthday Ball for the past six years.

In addition to his work with Veterans organizations, Major Bedford’s commitment to service extends throughout the community. Since 2019, he has been a member of the Canaveral Port Ministry, a faith-based organization which serves cruise and cargo ship crewmembers while in port, providing amenities, local transportation, complimentary wi-fi, fellowship away from home, and ministry.

Major Bedford and his wife Tina have been volunteers for Aging Matters in Brevard’s Meals On Wheels program for the past seven years. They reside in Viera and enjoy traveling, cruising, and visiting their children and grandchildren who live in Virginia.

SD 19 commends Major Rick Bedford for his selfless service to our nation and his enduring support of local Veterans, seniors, and the USMC community statewide.

District Highlights

Update on the 2026 November Storm

This past week, Brevard County experienced a severe rain event that caused extensive flooding and damage throughout the county. The National Weather Service described the storm as a one in 1,000-year event which resulted in the most substantial flooding Brevard County has seen since Hurricane Fay in 2008.

The flooding left roadways impassable, vehicles stranded, and residents in need of assistance. In response, Brevard County Emergency Management coordinated with state agencies, local governments, first responders, and community partners to implement a rapid response. Emergency responders worked throughout the storm to conduct water rescues, assist stranded motorists and residents, and respond to emergency calls.

I want to extend my sincere appreciation to all the first responders, law enforcement officers, firefighters, emergency medical personnel, public works crew, and emergency management professionals who worked tirelessly throughout this event. In particular, I want to thank Brevard Emergency Management Director John Scott and Brevard Sheriff Wayne Ivey for their leadership in keeping our residents safe.

Additionally, the storm occurred the day before the 2026 General Election. I would like to thank Brevard County Supervisor of Elections Tim Bobanic for temporarily relocating several voting precincts to ensure all eligible voters could safely cast their ballots.

On Monday evening, Governor DeSantis declared a State of Emergency to expedite resources and assistance to areas impacted by flooding. Lieutenant Governor Collins visited Palm Bay to assess the damage on Tuesday. I appreciate the Governor and Lieutenant Governor for their leadership and attention to our community during this challenging time.

For ongoing updates on emergency management efforts, click here. To report storm damage, click here.

Dr. Mark Rendell Named Eastern Florida State College’s Vice President of Workforce Education

This past week, Eastern Florida State College (EFSC) announced that Dr. Mark Rendell would become EFSC’s new Vice President of Workforce Education, Since 2023, Dr. Rendell has served as the Superintendent of Brevard Public Schools.

Brevard County is entering an exciting new era of economic opportunity, driven by the rapid expansion of the commercial space industry. This growth presents an extraordinary opportunity for EFSC to become the nation’s premier institution for hands-on, career-focused education and workforce training.

I have had the privilege of working with Dr. Mark Rendell during his tenure as Superintendent of Schools in both Brevard and Indian River counties. He has been an exceptional leader, expanding career and technical education opportunities and strengthening the connection between our public schools and the workforce needs of local employers. His leadership has helped equip students with the practical skills and training necessary to succeed in an increasingly competitive economy.

I cannot think of a better individual than Dr. Rendell to lead EFSC’s workforce development initiatives and help prepare the next generation of students for the extraordinary opportunities ahead. I look forward to continuing our work together to make that vision a reality.

Jetty Park Drive Renamed to Jerry Allender Way

Last week, Jetty Park Drive at Port Canaveral was renamed to Jerry Allender Way, in celebration of his retirement from the Canaveral Port Authority Board of Commissioners after a total of 28 years of service. Chairman Allender has served on the Port Authority Board of Commissioners continuously since 2011, having previously served from 1983 to 1994. Throughout his time on the Commission, he has served four terms as Chairman in 2015, 2016, 2022, and 2026.

Outside of the Port Commission, Chairman Allender practices law and has been involved with a wide range of community groups in Brevard County. This includes the Board of Directors of Hospice of St. Francis, Circles of Care, Inc., Brevard Civilian Military Community Relations Council, Inc., and Civilian Military Community Foundation, Inc. Additionally, he serves as General Counsel for the Jess Parrish Medical Foundation and the Space Museum of Titusville.

I want to thank Chairman Allender for his years of dedicated leadership and service to Port Canaveral and Brevard County. His contributions to our community will leave a lasting legacy.

Upcoming Events

42nd Annual Space Coast State Fair

The 42nd Annual Space Coast State Fair continues through Sunday, November 18th at the Space Coast Daily Park (5775 Stadium Parkway) in Melbourne. The Space Coast Fair features rides for all ages, a petting zoo, daily foam parties, puppet shows, professional bull riding, pro-wrestling matches, musical entertainment, and more.

Fair hours are as follows:

Monday - Thursday: 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Friday: 5:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m.
Saturday: 1:00 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.
Sunday: 1:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

For ticket prices, show schedules, special events, and ride restrictions, click here.

Registration is Open for Brevard County Holiday Parades

Brevard County Parks and Recreation is now taking registrations for participation in the Merritt Island and Cocoa/Rockledge Holiday Parades. This year's theme is "Gingerbread Lane.”

The Merritt Island parade will be held on Saturday, December 5th at 10:00 a.m. The parade route will begin at Merritt Island High School (100 Mustang Way) and end at Edgewood Junior/Senior High (180 East Merritt Avenue). The deadline to enter is Monday, November 30th at 4:00 p.m.

The Cocoa/Rockledge parade will be held on Saturday, December 12th at 10:00 a.m. The parade route will begin at Rockledge High School (220 Rockledge Avenue) and end at Lee Wenner Park (300 Riveredge Boulevard) in Cocoa. The deadline to enter is Monday, December 7th at 4:00 p.m.

To register to enter the parade, click here or call (321) 633-1874.

Honor America Veterans Day Event

Honor America will hold a Veterans Day event on Wednesday, November 11th at 11:00 a.m. at the Melbourne Liberty Bell Museum (1601 Oak Street).

The event will feature a ribbon cutting and dedication of the Museum’s new Women in the US Military exhibit. Over the past year, museum board members, volunteers, and women Veterans from the Their Voice of Hope organization created the exhibit to honor the military women who have served to our nation. Colonel Shannon DaSilva, former commander of Space Delta 10 at Patrick Space Force Base, will lead the dedication.

The event is free of charge and open to the public. For more information, call 321) 373-2311.

Wheels for Meals Poker Run & Car Show

The Space Coast Wheels for Meals Poker Run & Car Show will be held on Saturday, November 14th at 10:00 a.m. at Space Coast Harley-Davidson (1440 Sportsman Lane NE) in Palm Bay.

Entry fees for the motorcycle poker run are $20 per bike and $10 per passenger. The route includes stops at local restaurants including Gators Grill, Lone Cabbage Fish Camp, HD Roadhouse, Lou’s Blues Bar & Grill, and Aging Matters in Brevard in Rockledge, where lunch will be provided.

The car show entrance fees are $20 per car and free for spectators.

All proceeds benefit Aging Matters in Brevard and their mission to ensure that the vital health, safety, and quality of life needs of local seniors are met, while maintaining their independence and dignity.

For more information, contact (321) 639-8770.