Name recognition likely helped Brackett win House 34 race, could buoy him in general election

With the title of Vero Beach mayor and a name known throughout Indian River County, Robert "Robbie" Brackett's campaign proved too much for a challenger who moved to Sebastian full-time three years ago.

Brackett easily defeated Karen Hiltz to win the Republican nod for the state House District 34 race with 59% of the unofficial results, according to the Tuesday night election totals from Indian River and Brevard counties.

His two terms, or four years on the Vero Beach City Council dealing with many municipal issues helped him gain electoral momentum for the state race

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He's been a part of controversial proposals including implementing a stormwater tax, discussing beachside parking problems and the future of the Three Corners area, a 38-acre waterfront parcel at the base of the Alma Lee Loy Bridge at 17th Street, among many other issues.

In winning a council seat in 2018, he won it a second time after the election was contested and there was a special election a few months later. In a tighter candidate crowd in 2020, he secured second place in a field of five.