Larson’s View of Leadership
As the election season heats up in Melbourne Beach, voters are faced with a crucial decision regarding our leaders for Town Commission. One candidate, Bruce Larson, is making bold claims about his intentions and vision for our town. However, upon closer examination, these illusions of leadership reveal a stark contrast between rhetoric and reality—a reminder that truth and accuracy matter when it comes to choosing our Town Commissioners.
A political flyer was recently mailed to the residents of the town, paid for and approved by Mr. Larson. Let’s take a closer look at some of his statements…
“Partisan Bickering”
Candidate Larson asserts that he will eliminate partisan bickering within our local government. While this statement may resonate with those weary of divisive politics at higher levels, it’s essential to recognize that all municipal elections in Florida are nonpartisan by nature. This means that candidates do not run on party affiliations; thus, the notion of “partisan bickering” is largely irrelevant at this level.
“Eliminating Waste”
Candidate Larson makes unsubstantiated and misleading claims about waste within the town’s budget. There is no documented evidence indicating wasteful spending practices. At Truth and Accuracy Matter, we look forward to the JLAC investigation which we believe will demonstrate there is no wasteful spending occurring - except perhaps related to expenses incurred from the extensive, multiple lawsuits initiated by Mayor Dennington that necessitate defense spending from taxpayer funds. Another consideration might be from Mr. Larson’s hyperfixation on software programs that would monitor the behavior of short term rental owners. While he claims “Eliminate, eliminate, eliminate’”, it’s more like, “Spend, spend, spend”. Mr. Larson led the charge to implement a software program that is costing the residents of the Town $13,500.00 per year. This is an online portal that helps short term rental owners register their property and allows town residents to file complaints. This is actually making it easier for out-of-town vacation rental owners to file the necessary forms from anywhere in the country. Both processes were previously possible by simply making a direct phone call or visiting Town Hall in person. We need to ask ourselves, isn’t THAT wasteful spending? Most of us could monitor this with pen and paper! CLICK HERE to see the online portal on the Town’s website.
“Holding Staff Accountable”
Larson also emphasizes his commitment to holding staff accountable as part of his campaign platform. However, it's vital to understand the structure established by our Town Charter: authority over staff lies exclusively with the Town Manager and is not under the purview of the Commissioners. This distinction raises questions about Larson's understanding of the responsibilities associated with being a Town Commissioner. CLICK HERE to read Section 3.03 of the Town Charter. You can also CLICK HERE to see the Hierarchy Chart
If accountability is indeed a priority for him, one might wonder why he would overlook this fundamental aspect of local governance in his campaign messaging. Voters deserve clarity on such promises—especially from someone who recently served on the Charter Review Committee—an opportunity that should have deepened his understanding of how our Town operates.
LARSON’S “TOP LOCAL ISSUES”
“Overdevelopment & Vacation Rentals”
One of the key issues highlighted by candidate Larson is Overdevelopment & Vacation Rentals. He argues that these topics warrant urgent attention; however, facts tell a different story. Our town is completely built out—the physical limitations prevent any new major developments beyond what already exists— and residential building heights are capped at 28 feet to further restrict overdevelopment in residential areas. Furthermore, even the commercial buildings are capped at 35 feet, designed to maintain our small town charm.
The number of Short Term “Vacation Rentals” within the Town of Melbourne Beach is approximately 2% of the total housing units. Mr. Larson has touted higher numbers but has been unable to produce proof of his theory. The Town HAS placed a great deal of focus on addressing the concerns of short term rentals. Our original Vacation Rental Ordinance was initiated by former commissioner and current candidate, Sherri Quarrie, in 2020. That ordinance was amended slightly in 2025 to include a few more regulations and significant increases in fees to short term rental owners. The Town of Melbourne Beach is required to follow Florida Statute 509, which does not and cannot regulate the number of STRs allowed within a municipality. Mr. Larson apparently fails to understand the correlation of municipal law and Florida State law. It appears that he finds value in spinning the facts to instill fear among unknowing residents in order to gain votes.
“Rising Taxes”
Larson highlights rising taxes as a significant issue facing Melbourne Beach residents. However, an analysis of current data reveals an inconsistency between wild claims made on another website associated with Mr. Larson and the documented reality. Elections are tainted when misleading statements about financial burdens on residents circulate around town. This behavior will only disenfranchise voters from the truth. The reality is, our property millage rate today is lower than it was back in 2020—a crucial fact worth noting. CLICK HERE
The flyer in question conveys an unsettling sense of superiority and arrogance from candidate Larson. Instead of fostering collaboration with constituents, it portrays him as the authority figure. The choice of using dramatic buzzwords like ”careless development," "poor contracting," and “wasteful spending” appears to sensationalize town issues with political rhetoric rather than engage in a meaningful way with voters. His approach ignores constructive dialogue and real solutions to real issues while he boldly asserts, "I DON’T MAKE EXCUSES - I DELIVER."
While such statements may sound compelling at first glance, they also come across as somewhat grandiose given Larson's lack of experience in local government. His record of serving in Baghdad, Iraq and for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is commendable and we honor his service. The concern lies with the practicality of applying those experiences to working together with fellow commissioners, town staff and representing all the residents of Melbourne Beach, not just a select few.
Candidate Larson presents himself as a solution-oriented leader ready to tackle pressing issues facing Melbourne Beach residents through strong proclamations like those found in his flyer, yet there remains significant gaps between his statements versus actual issues within our community.
As voters prepare for this critical election cycle ahead, it is imperative that we demand transparency from those seeking office so we can make decisions grounded in factual realities rather than political platitudes or misrepresentations filled primarily with bravado and no substance behind them!
Truth and accuracy matter now more than ever in the Town of Melbourne Beach. Please do your part and vote in the November election! We are counting on you so that we can serve you!