Rick Meltzer bested three candidates in the Port St. Lucie City Council District 1 seat in the Aug. 18 primary election, but he did not get enough votes to seal the election, according to final but unofficial results.
Meltzer will face Indony P. Jean Baptiste in the Nov. 3 general election. Here are the percentage votes in the four-way contest:
The Nov. 3 winner will succeed three-term incumbent Stephanie Morgan, who was first elected in 2016 and not seek reelection. They will make about $65,000 a year for the four-year term, and there is no term limit. They will represent the whole city, but must live in District 1, which includes the eastern and northeastern portions.
The Port St. Lucie City Council is nonpartisan and elected “at large,” meaning all voters can vote for any candidate, regardless of which district the voter lives in.
Here’s a snapshot of all four candidates in the Aug. 18 primary election:
TCPalm Editorial Board: Recommended Eric Reikenis for Port St. Lucie City Council District 1
TCPalm candidate questionnaire: See how each candidate answered our questions
Rick Meltzer
For over 20 years, Meltzer, 53, has lived in District 1 and been a mortgage loan originator. He said he’s done youth coaching-mentoring for over 17 years. He has not served on any previous city boards.
A political newcomer, Meltzer prides himself on not being a politician, but an outsider who will “ask questions and will never settle for ‘that is how it has always been’ or ‘business as usual.’ ” He said his top three priorities are affordability (cut the budget and property taxes); holding developers, contractors and businesses accountable; and championing a sports complex.
“I want to make the city a safe, fun, economically smart place that we are proud to raise our families,” he said. “I also want to bring honesty, transparency and accountability to the City Council.”
Eric Reikenis
Reikenis, 47, a real estate agent, has served on the Planning & Zoning Board since 2022 and previously the Redistricting Committee. He said he’s an avid volunteer at his church, soccer club and St. Lucie County Humane Society.
A political newcomer, he wants to take Port St. Lucie to the next level, but through managed growth. He said his top three priorities are cutting taxes, easing traffic, and boosting parks and recreation for adults and children.
“City leadership needs to be prepared for continued growth for the next 50 years with planning that provides for adequate infrastructure, exceptional services, and the best quality of life for our residents,” he said. “Whether it’s homeless pets, people trying to find a parking spot in the church parking lot, or young children learning how to play soccer, I truly love helping and serving others.”
Kevin Zimmerman
Zimmerman, 63, owned and operated a transportation business for about 13 years. He volunteers with the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office and Port St. Lucie Police Department’s Community Patrol.
He unsuccessfully challenged Morgan in 2022, getting 19% of the vote compared to her 62%.
He said his top three priorities are ensuring responsible spending with a thorough budget review; responsible growth with developers contributing to infrastructure; and easing traffic congestion
“As a longtime resident, small business owner, and public safety volunteer, I understand concerns about growth, traffic, affordability, infrastructure, and public safety,” he said. “My goal is to bring practical experience, accountability, independence, and common sense to City Hall.”
Indony Jean Baptiste
Idony Jean Baptiste ran for Port St. Lucie City Council District 1 in 2026 and 2022.
Baptiste, 58, is a minister and was an Indian River County Sheriff’s Office detention deputy from 2006-08.
Baptiste declined to answer TCPalm’s candidate questions, as he did when he ran against Morgan in 2022, getting 19% of the vote compared to her 62%.
In 2022, he said he probably would serve only half the four-year term because he needed only two years to get the job done. That year, he filed to run for St. Lucie County sheriff in 2024, but he later withdrew.
Tim O’Hara is TCPalm’s St. Lucie watchdog, environment and fisheries reporter. Contact him at tim.ohara@tcpalm.com.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Port St. Lucie City Council District 1 election heads to Nov. 3 runoff