Eight people are running for three Vero Beach City Council seats. Here are the names and the voting dates.

Most of us think about city council a few times a year. Usually it is when a bill goes up. In Vero Beach, the City Council is the group that votes on those bills, and three council seats are on the ballot this fall.

Vero News reported on October 16 that eight candidates are running for the three open seats. This article sticks to the facts: who is running, when and where you can vote, and where to hear the candidates for yourself. It does not tell you who to pick. That part is yours.

Why the City Council matters to your house

If you live inside Vero Beach city limits, the council's votes show up on your bills. In August, the City Council and the city's Utility Commission both approved water and sewer rate increases that started October 1, WPTV reported. Rates step up again each October through 2029.

WPTV reported that a typical bill for a customer using 4,000 gallons a month goes from $83.54 to $122.45 by 2029. The plan also added a new monthly charge for homes still on septic, starting at $40.85 and reaching $54.24 by October 2029.

The council also sets the city's budget and tax rate. Vero News listed the big topics in this race:

• Three Corners, the 38-acre city-owned waterfront property where the old power plant stood, and the long negotiations over its future.
• Whether to support a Brightline high-speed rail stop in Vero Beach.
• City finances, taxes and the city's low tax rate.
• Expansion of the Vero Beach Regional Airport.
• Streamlining some services with Indian River County.

Who is running

The City of Vero Beach lists these eight candidates for the 2026 election. The short backgrounds below come from the Vero News report. They are listed in no particular order.

• Davis Benedict, a political newcomer.
• Brian Heady, a former council member who has also served on the city's utility commission.
• Jay Kramer, a former two-term mayor.
• Robert MacCallum, who owns a local real estate company.
• Linda Moore, an incumbent council member and former vice mayor.
• John O'Connor, a first-time candidate who has worked as a firefighter and paramedic since 2000.
• Aaron Vos, an incumbent council member first elected in 2024.
• Tracey Zudans, a former council member.

Council member John Carroll is not running again, Vero News reported. Council members serve two-year terms. Vero Beach voters do not elect the mayor directly. The new council picks a mayor from among its members at its first organizational meeting, and the mayor serves a one-year term.

Want to know where each candidate stands? Read the full Vero News story, which sums up what each one said they would focus on. Vero News also mentioned candidate forums hosted by Let's Talk Vero, the Taxpayers Association of Indian River County and the Indian River Republican Executive Committee. Hearing the candidates answer questions in person is one of the best ways to decide.

When and where to vote

The Indian River County Supervisor of Elections runs the election. Here are the dates and places from its website.

• Early voting: Monday, October 19 through Saturday, October 31.
• Early voting hours: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., with extended hours until 6 p.m. on Thursdays.
• Election Day: Tuesday, November 3. On Election Day you vote at your assigned polling place, not at any site you choose.
• Mail ballots: they must be received by the Supervisor of Elections office by 7 p.m. on Election Day to be counted.

Early voting is open at four places. You can use any of them:

• Indian River County Main Library, 1600 21st Street, Vero Beach.
• Supervisor of Elections Office, 4375 43rd Avenue, Vero Beach.
• Intergenerational Recreation Center (iG Center), Room 112, 1590 9th Street SW, Vero Beach.
• Sebastian City Hall Council Chambers, 1225 Main Street, Sebastian.

What to do this week

1. Check that you live inside Vero Beach city limits. A Vero Beach mailing address does not always mean you are in the city. Your sample ballot will show whether the council race is on it.
2. Look up your sample ballot and your Election Day polling place at voteindianriver.gov, or call the Elections Office at 772-226-4700.
3. Read the Vero News candidate story and catch a forum if you can.
4. If you vote by mail, send your ballot back early. It has to arrive by 7 p.m. on November 3.
5. If you want to skip lines, plan a weekday early voting trip. Thursdays stay open until 6 p.m.
6. Save the city's number, 772-978-5151, for questions about city services after the new council is seated.

Whoever wins, the people in these seats will vote on your rates, your taxes and big projects like Three Corners for the next two years. It is worth fifteen minutes to learn their names.