Rick Meltzer won the open Port St. Lucie City Council District 1 seat, succeeding three-term Councilwoman Stephanie Morgan after campaigning on infrastructure-first growth and tighter spending oversight. With 58 of 62 precincts reporting, Meltzer had 56.7 percent of the vote to Idony Jean Baptist’s 43.3 percent. The district covers the city’s eastern and northeastern areas. Morgan did not seek reelection.
Meltzer, a mortgage loan originator and political newcomer, has lived in District 1 for more than 20 years. He has spent 17 years coaching and mentoring in youth sports. He says he would bring an outsider’s perspective to City Hall, with a platform focused on affordability, accountability and infrastructure.
Meltzer led the four-candidate August primary with about 42 percent of the vote, followed by his opponent at about 22 percent. Neither reached the majority needed to win outright.
Meltzer says he would seek budget cuts and lower property taxes while holding contractors and developers to project deadlines and budgets. He wants road, utility and other infrastructure needs addressed before the city approves new development. He also opposes more zero-lot-line housing and supports building a sports complex.
Meltzer has said he is researching the impacts of data centers, including water use, electricity demand and noise. He says their potential tax revenue and jobs could outweigh those concerns if the city protects residents’ interests.
Idony Jean Baptist is a minister and former Indian River County Sheriff’s Office detention deputy who ran for the same council seat in 2022 and later briefly filed to run for St. Lucie County sheriff before withdrawing. His campaign emphasized safer communities, transparent government, listening to residents, helping people in need and supporting small businesses.
He proposed attracting more businesses to grow city revenue and reduce service costs for residents. He also supported moving to a double-can automated trash-pickup system, which he said could improve service and save money.