Frederick “Thai” Heiler, the vice chair of the Libertarian Party of Brevard County, will automatically take the District 4 seat on the Malabar Town Council later this year after no other candidate filed to run. The council will vote to confirm Heiler’s candidacy on Monday night.
According to details published Monday, Heiler is expected to retain the seat and be sworn in on November 6, which is the original date of the general election had there been additional candidates. The national Libertarian Party also celebrated news of Heiler’s anticipated victory, posting about on social media the same day.
Malabar is a town in Brevard County with a five‑member council and a mayor. All council seats are nonpartisan and elected by district as of 2017. The qualifying deadline for the Malabar municipal ballot was Tuesday, August 12. Under Florida law, if only one candidate qualifies for a municipal office by the deadline, that candidate is deemed elected without opposition and no election is held for that seat.
A list of candidates maintained by Brevard County Supervisor of Elections Tim Bobanic shows no filings for either the District 4 or District 5 seats as of this article. That list also does not yet include Heiler.
Editorial note: Heiler’s name has since been added to the Brevard County Supervisor of Elections candidate list, showing him as the sole qualifier for the District 4 seat. Under Florida law, this means he will take office later this year without opposition. This article has been updated to reflect that information.
In a conversation with Independent Political Report, an employee of the Malabar town hall confirmed that Heiler did submit candidate paperwork, which is scheduled for review by the town council Monday night before his name will be published. The agenda shows that no other candidates submitted paperwork.
Once confirmed by the Malabar Town Council, Heiler will join a handful of other local Libertarians elected this year. Earlier this month, local members in Washington, Michigan, and Kansas won primary elections, securing spots on the November ballot. Libertarian members also made gains or retained seats in several communities prior to the August primaries, including in Oklahoma, Illinois, Massachusetts, and Texas.
Update to the article: Heiler’s name has since been added to the Brevard County Supervisor of Elections candidate list, showing him as the sole qualifier for the District 4 seat. Under Florida law, this means he will take office later this year without opposition
Congratulations to Libertarian Frederick “Thai” Heiler and citizens of Malabar, Florida on this achievement!