The Mayfield Minute - October 26, 2025 | | |
National First Responders Day
The movement to establish a National First Responders Day began after the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing. In the days following the attack, Massachusetts Institute of Technology police officer Sean Collier encountered the terrorists on campus and was killed in the line of duty. His brother, Andrew Collier, began advocating for a national day to honor all first responders.
In 2017, the United States Senate passed a resolution designating October 28th as National First Responders Day. This day recognizes the heroic service and dedication of firefighters, police officers, emergency medical technicians, paramedics, and other public safety professionals.
The first official observance of National First Responders Day took place on October 28, 2018, and it has since served as an annual opportunity to honor those who step forward to serve and protect those who cannot protect themselves.
Each year, we pause to express our appreciation to the men and women who bravely charge into situations that would cause most to run away. We all owe our first responders our gratitude for their long hours, missed time with families, and unwavering commitment to keeping our communities safe and healthy. Their service is a powerful reminder of courage and selflessness.
May we never forget all of the first responders who have lost their lives in the line of duty.
The Florida Legislature’s remaining 2025 interim committee meetings are scheduled for the weeks of November 3rd, November 17th, December 1st, and December 8th. The Senate Update section of the Mayfield Minute will resume with the November 9th edition.
If you will be visiting the State Capitol during the committee weeks or the legislative session and need assistance or an appointment, please call my Tallahassee office at (850) 487-5019.
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. My staff and I are here to serve you!
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Florida Highway Patrol and Drug Enforcement Administration Joint Operation Intercepts Cocaine Worth Millions
Earlier this month, a coordinated effort between the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) led to the interception of approximately 173 kilograms of cocaine worth an estimated street value of $17.3 million.
The DEA alerted FHP to intelligence regarding a semi-truck suspected of transporting narcotics from the Mexican-Texas border into South Florida. FHP’s Criminal Interdiction Unit located and stopped the truck on the Florida Turnpike. The traffic stop resulted in an inspection uncovering a concealed trap door in the semi-truck with multiple bags filled with cocaine. All of the suspects involved, including a previously deported individual, were apprehended and remain in federal custody.
Since 2019, FHP has recovered over 14,000 kilograms of illegal narcotics, including 925 kilograms of cocaine, 23.5 kilograms of Fentanyl, 14 kilograms of heroin, 9,600 kilograms of marijuana, and 19 kilograms of MDMA.
“Under Governor DeSantis’ leadership, Florida remains a national model for law and order,” said Lieutenant Governor Jay Collins. “Our message to drug traffickers is clear: do not bring your poison into our state. We will find you, we will arrest you, and we will always stand on the front lines to protect Floridians from those who threaten our safety and our future.”
Governor DeSantis Announces Nearly $1 Billion in Auto Insurance Refunds
Last week, Governor Ron DeSantis announced that state regulators have secured nearly $1 billion in refund credits for Progressive auto insurance policyholders.
According to Mike Yaworsky, Commissioner of the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation, the agreement is expected to provide renewal credits to approximately 2.7 million personal auto policyholders. The average credit per policyholder is expected to be $300, depending on individual policy history.
Auto insurers are required under Florida law to return excess profits to policyholders. In September, Progressive recorded an excess of $950 million in revenue for the three-calendar year period ending December 31, 2025.
Progressive’s increased revenue is largely credited to 2023 legislative reforms which limited the frivolous lawsuits that led to higher insurance rates. For 2025, the top five auto insurers have reduced their rates by an average of 6.5%. To avoid exceeding profit caps in the future, insurers are expected to continue lowering their rates.
The Office of Insurance Regulation is monitoring other auto insurance companies that may be approaching their statutory profit caps. The Governor expects to reach similar agreements with those insurers if they exceed the profit threshold.
Florida Recognizes National Pedestrian Safety Month
The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) and the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) recognized October as National Pedestrian Safety Month to raise awareness of the important roles both pedestrians and drivers have in ensuring safety on roadways.
“Pedestrian safety is a public safety priority, and this campaign reflects our commitment to reducing fatalities through awareness, education, and enforcement,” said Executive Director Dave Kerner. “It’s critical that drivers remain attentive to pedestrians, and that pedestrians take proactive steps to follow proper crossing protocols and ensure they’re visible to motorists.”
Some of the FLHSMV and FHP tips for pedestrians and motorists include:
Pedestrians:
- Walk on sidewalks or walk facing oncoming traffic.
- Refrain from distractions such as headphones, earbuds, and cell phones while crossing the street.
- When possible, cross streets at designated crosswalks or intersections; look for vehicles in all directions, including those turning.
- If crossing outside a crosswalk or intersection cannot be avoided, pedestrians must yield to vehicles.
Motorists:
- Use extra caution when driving at night or during inclement weather.
- Slow down and be prepared to stop when turning or entering a crosswalk; never pass vehicles stopped at a crosswalk.
- Always follow the speed limit and be aware of lower speed limits in school zones and neighborhoods.
- Failure to yield to a pedestrian legally crossing the street may result in a minimum citation of $164 and three points on your driver license.
For additional safety resources and background information, click here.
| | Happy 100th Birthday Major George Rosenfield | |
Major George Rosenfield, United States Army (RET)
Happy 100th Birthday to Major George Rosenfield, United States Army (RET), an American hero, and Veteran of the Korean War and World War II.
Major Rosenfield turned 18 in August 1943 and immediately signed up for the draft while attending Massachusetts State College (now University of Massachusetts at Amherst). In December 1943, he left school to enter the U.S. Army.
Major Rosenfield served as a “Ski Trooper” in the famed U.S. Army 10th Mountain Division. This unique group came into existence on July 13, 1943, at an Army base in the Colorado Rockies. The Division trained at 9,200 feet above sea level and refined the skills of its elite soldiers to fight and survive under the most rigorous mountain conditions.
Major Rosenfield entered combat with the 10th Mountain Division in Italy during World War II. In recalling his combat experiences, he said, “God kept me alive, I should have died at least seven or eight times.”
After surviving the second world war, Major Rosenfield made the decision to continue fighting for his nation. He served as an Engineer Officer in the Korean War before retiring in 1968, having completed 25 years of noble military service.
After his retirement, he began a civilian career as a scientist with RCA’s military missile program at Cape Canaveral before joining Raytheon as a specialist in satellite and radar technology. He was later employed by the U.S. Geological Survey as an expert in geographical mapping, providing analysis of the Cenozoic era and its impact on global warming.
Major Rosenfield married his beloved (late) wife Carolyn in 1949, they moved to Florida permanently in 1986. They were married for 66 years and have two sons and eight grandchildren.
Happy 100th Birthday Major Rosenfield!
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Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey
In recognition of National First Responders Day and his 40-year career in law enforcement, our Constituent of the Week is Brevard County Sheriff, Wayne Ivey.
Sheriff Ivey is a native Floridian. He earned his associate degree in Criminal Justice from Eastern Florida State College and bachelor's degree in Management and Supervision from Daytona State College. Sheriff Ivey is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy 237th Session.
He began his law enforcement career in 1979 in Clay County as a member of the Sheriff’s Explorer program before serving as a Corrections Officer and Reserve Deputy. From 1982 to 1989, Sheriff Ivey worked for the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office as a Deputy Sheriff, Detective, and Narcotics Detective. In 1989, he returned to the Clay County Sheriff’s Office as a Detective for four years before joining the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) in 1993.
Throughout his career with FDLE, Sheriff Ivey served as a Special Agent in the Fort Pierce office, Special Agent Supervisor in Orlando, and as the Resident Agent-In-Charge in Brevard and Volusia counties. In these roles he led major investigations in violent, economic, public integrity, domestic security, narcotic, and many other crimes. Additionally, he helped to establish nationally recognized, innovative programs such as the Child Abduction Response Team. and was invited to testify before the United States Congress on law enforcement and innovations in crime prevention.
Sheriff Ivey was elected to the Office of Brevard County Sheriff in 2012 and subsequently reelected in 2016, 2020, and 2024. As Sheriff, he leads one of Florida’s largest law enforcement agencies with over 1,700 employees serving a population of more than 670,000 residents, and millions of Space Coast visitors. Sheriff Ivey oversees all divisions of the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office including patrol, aviation, agricultural and marine, SWAT, and K-9 units.
Since his election in 2012, the crime rate in Brevard County has dropped by a staggering 52%. Sheriff Ivey was selected by his peers in the Florida Sheriff's Association to service as Chairman of the Training Committee and in 2022 was appointed by Governor DeSantis to Florida's Criminal Justice Standards and Training Board. He is also the recipient of the “President’s Award” from the Florida Crime Prevention Association and the National Rifle Association’s “Defender of Freedom” award.
Beyond his role as Sheriff, he serves, or has served, on numerous community organization boards or as a volunteer including Crosswinds Youth Services, Promise of Brevard, AMI Kids, Circles of Care, the Eastern Florida State College Foundation, and Space Coast Honor Flight, among many others. Sheriff Ivey is active throughout the community supporting local businesses and special events with his loyal K-9 partner, Saint, at his side.
SD 19 is grateful for Sheriff Wayne Ivey’s tireless leadership and unwavering commitment to the safety and well-being of Brevard County residents.
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Celebrate Halloween Safely
The Brevard County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement have provided the following tips to ensure Halloween festivities remain safe for all:
- Know where your children are, who they are with, and how to contact them.
- Make sure children know their address and telephone number, how to call 911, and to never enter any home.
- Set clear limits on where your children can trick-or-treat and what time they should check in or return home.
- Always travel in groups on well-lit streets. Children should have flashlights or glow sticks and walk on sidewalks and crosswalks when possible.
- Ensure costumes are non-toxic, have reflective material, and that vision is not impaired by a mask.
- Be very cautious of malicious attempts to disguise the deadly Fentanyl drug as common candies like Skittles, Nerds, or Whoppers.
- Inspect all candy before eating.
I hope everyone enjoying Trick-or-Treat activities or attending Halloween parties has a fun and safe evening, Happy Halloween!
Governor DeSantis Appoints Two to the Board of Eastern Florida State College
Last week, Governor DeSantis made two appointments to the Board of Trustees for Eastern Florida State College (EFSC).
Dr. Zonka is the Administrator and Health Officer for the Florida Department of Health in Brevard County. Dr. Zonka is a board member of the Space Coast Health Foundation and the Health Council of East Central Florida. She also served as a Brevard County Commissioner from 2017 until 2023. Dr. Zonka earned her associate degree in Nursing from Keiser University and her master's degree and doctorate in Nursing Practice from Frontier Nursing University.
The Governor also reappointed Mr. Ronald Howse. In addition to the Board of Trustees for EFSC, Mr. Howse serves on the Florida Transportation Commission and the Governing Board for the St. Johns River Water Management District. He earned his bachelor's degree in engineering from the University of Central Florida.
Congratulations to Dr. Zonka and Mr. Howse.
Dassault Falcon Jet Opens New Facility at Melbourne Orlando International Airport
Dassault Falcon Jet recently opened a new maintenance, repair, and overhaul facility at the Melbourne Orlando International Airport. According to the Economic Development Commission of Florida’s Space Coast, the facility represents more than $115 million in capital investment.
“We started to look at where could we be on the east coast, expanding from the northeast from north to south and Florida, after many discussions, it became obvious mainly for the business-friendly orientation of the state,” said Theirry Betbeze, the CEO of Dassault Falcon Jet. “... Florida is a place where you have a huge pool of talent and mainly in aerospace. So, we said to ourselves, ‘Well it’s good to be in a place where we can find experienced workers but also new, young kids coming from universities.”
President and CEO of the Economic Development Commission of Florida’s Space Coast, Lynda Weatherman, stated “This state-of-the-art maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) facility is creating 400 full-time jobs right here in Brevard County, and beyond the numbers, it’s setting a global standard of excellence for MRO operations.”
For more information on Dassault Falcon Jet's new facility, click here.
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40th Annual Space Coast State Fair
The 40th Annual Space Coast State Fair will be held at the Space Coast Daily Park (5775 Stadium Parkway) in Melbourne from Thursday, October 30th through Thursday, November 16th. In addition to rides for all ages, the fair will also feature attractions such as a petting zoo, daily foam parties, puppet shows, musical entertainment, food and beverages, and more.
Fair hours are as follows:
- Monday - Thursday: 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
- Tuesday, November 11th Veterans Day Holiday: 1:00 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.
On Friday, October 31st, attendees are encouraged to wear Halloween costumes for an opportunity to appear on the Space Coast Daily online broadcast.
The fair is open to all ages with some ride restrictions. For additional information on admission and ticket pricing, click here.
Trunk or Treat in Viera
Ford’s Garage will host a free, family friendly Trunk-or-Treat event on Thursday, October 30th from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at their restaurant (5480 Lake Andrew Drive) in Viera.
The Ford's Garage parking lot will be transformed into a Halloween Wonderland with candy, costumes, decorated car trunks, and spooky surprises. Other activities include photo opportunities, a bounce house, face painting, and more.
Vendors interested in participating in the trunk-or-treat decorating candy give away can obtain the QR code to register here or contact Amanda Rae Ebbert at 321-507-0112 for more information.
FDOT Announces Open House for SR A1A and SR 528/SR 524 Improvement Projects
The Florida Department of Transportation will hold an Open House on Thursday, October 30th from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the City of Cape Canaveral Community Center (7920 Orange Avenue) in Cape Canaveral.
The meeting will include a presentation on three local projects and provide an opportunity for residents to discuss the projects with the Department of Transportation. The three projects below will be considered at the meeting.
To attend the meeting virtually, click here. For anyone unable to attend the meeting, FDOT is accepting comments and questions on the project webpages linked above. The deadline to submit written questions and comments is November 1st.
Satellite Beach Founders Day Celebration
The Satellite Beach Woman's Club will hold a Founders Day Celebration on Saturday, November 1st from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the DRS Community Center (1089 South Patrick Drive) in Satellite Beach.
The Founders Day parade will begin at 11:00 a.m. at DeLaura Middle School (300 South Jackson Avenue) and end at the DRS Community Center. Other activities include a marketplace with over 200 craft and specialty vendors, live music, food, and family friendly events.
For more information, contact the Satellite Beach Recreation Department at (321) 773-6458.
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Contact Information
Melbourne Office
900 East Strawbridge Avenue,
Suite 408,
Melbourne, FL 32901
321-409-2025
Tallahassee Office
400 South Monroe Street,
302 Senate Building,
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1100
850-487-5019
Staff
Yvette Campbell
Christian Chesnut
William Gooden
Kelli Lane
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