On the Ballot: Calvin Holton, Candidate for Sebastian Inlet District Commission, Seat 5

Calvin “Très” Holton III is a candidate for the Sebastian Inlet District and a 30-year resident of Brevard County. A practicing Catholic who is pro-life and pro-family, Calvin and his family are parishioners of St. Joseph Catholic Church. Calvin is a U.S. History teacher, STEM educator at Kennedy Space Center, Army National Guard veteran, and former city councilmember. His public-service experience includes serving as Vice-Chair of the Space Coast Transportation Planning Organization and working in state and local government. Calvin and his wife, Ashley, have been married for 27 years and are the proud parents of a son and daughter.

Why are you running for the Sebastian Inlet District Commission?

After church, Sebastian Inlet was one of my grandfather’s favorite places to fish, be at peace with our Creator, and share his wisdom with me. The very first Atlantic Ocean sunrise I witnessed in Florida was from the inlet’s North Jetty with him.

Those memories shaped my appreciation for this special place and my belief that we have a responsibility to preserve it, maintain it, and be good stewards of what has been entrusted to us. I want to help ensure that future generations can experience Sebastian Inlet as my grandfather and I did.

For me, this race isn’t just politics; it is personal. I am running for my Paw Paw, for the families who enjoy the inlet today, and for generations of families who have yet to make their own memories there.

What does it mean to you to be a Brevard resident?

Brevard County has been my home for 30 years. It is where my wife, Ashley, and I built our life together, raised our son and daughter, and became part of a community that has given our family so much.

Being a Brevard resident means appreciating the remarkable place we call home. We live between the headwaters of the St. Johns River and the Indian River Lagoon, one of North America’s most biologically diverse estuaries, with the Atlantic Ocean just beyond our barrier islands. Protecting these natural treasures is part of our responsibility to future generations.

Brevard is also a place of exploration. More than five centuries ago, Juan Ponce de León first made landfall in Florida along our coast. Centuries later, Apollo astronauts launched from here to explore the Moon. That spirit of discovery remains part of our identity. 

After 30 years here, I believe being a Brevardian makes each of us, in some small way, an honorary explorer and a steward of an extraordinary place entrusted to our care.

What is the top issue driving your campaign, and what can voters expect you to do about it?

The top issue driving my campaign is responsible stewardship of Sebastian Inlet—protecting this extraordinary public resource while ensuring that it remains safe, accessible, and sustainable for future generations.

The inlet does not exist in isolation. Decisions involving navigation, sand management, beaches, infrastructure, the Indian River Lagoon, public recreation, and taxpayer dollars are interconnected. Commissioners have a responsibility to understand those relationships and make decisions based on sound science, good planning, fiscal discipline, collaboration, and the long-term public interest.

Voters can expect me to ask questions, study the issues, listen to residents and subject-matter experts, and insist upon transparency and accountability in how public resources are managed. My experience in local government and regional transportation planning taught me that good public policy requires both long-range vision and attention to detail.

My goal is straightforward: preserve what makes Sebastian Inlet special, responsibly maintain what previous generations entrusted to us, and leave it stronger for those who come after us.

What is one misconception people may have about you or your platform?

One of the biggest misconceptions I encounter is not about me or my platform—it is about the election itself. Many Brevard residents assume that because it is called the Sebastian Inlet District, you must live in the City of Sebastian to vote in the race. That is simply not the case. 

The Sebastian Inlet District extends across a substantial portion of Brevard County and into Indian River County. Hundreds of thousands of Brevard residents live within the district, including voters in communities many miles from Sebastian.

 That matters because Sebastian Inlet is a regional resource. Its management affects navigation, beaches, the Indian River Lagoon, recreation, tourism, and taxpayers throughout the district.

Before voters decide whether to support me or another candidate, I want them to know that this election may be on their ballot. I encourage residents to learn whether they live within the Sebastian Inlet District, learn about the office and the candidates, and most importantly, exercise their right to vote. 

How has your Christian faith shaped your life, and how can voters expect it to influence your approach to public office?

My Christian faith has shaped my attitudes, health, career, family, and, most importantly, my relationship with my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Through humility, I opened my mind and spirit to accept the Word. Through Scripture and the counsel of others, I continue to seek Truth and refine my self-government and my responsibilities as a husband, father, son, and neighbor. Through the Gospels, parables, and homilies, I seek the keys to good citizenship and a purpose-driven life. Through charity, I find solace and joy. By treating my body as a temple for God’s work, I have rediscovered remarkable health. Through God’s healing grace, my wife and I have witnessed healing among family and friends.

Above all, through the blood of Jesus Christ, I believe in the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and eternal life with God.

These convictions are not separate from who I am. I will depend upon them as I approach public service with humility, integrity, compassion, self-discipline, and a commitment to faithfully steward the public trust as your Sebastian Inlet District Commissioner.

Readers can learn more, contact the campaign, or support Calvin Holton at HoltonForSebastianInlet.com.

— Christians of Brevard is a multi-church initiative that seeks to amplify the voices of local churches and ministries for the purpose of encouraging the local body of Christ and advancing the Kingdom of God. Join our Facebook community @ChristiansOfBrevard