State Rep. Erin Grall looks to jump to Senate in newly drawn legislative redistricting plan

VERO BEACH — State Rep. Erin Grall wants to move to the state Senate, on Thursday announcing her candidacy for the proposed Senate District 29, which would cover Sebastian to Port St. Lucie and west beyond Okeechobee. 

While the state House and Senate have approved the redistricting plan for the Legislature, required every 10 years to adjust for population growth, it still needs approval of the Florida Supreme Court. 

The new District 29 takes parts of the current state Senate District 17, now represented by Debbie Mayfield, R-Rockledge. Under the proposed redistricting, Mayfield, whose term ends this year, would be moved to District 19, which encompasses Roseland to north of Cape Canaveral. 

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Grall, a Vero Beach Republican, is in her third term in the Florida House, representing District 54: Indian River County and part of northern St. Lucie County. She has focused on early-education initiatives, reducing automotive insurance expenses and improving water quality.

She was a sponsor and a driving force behind the passage last session of the Parents' Bill of Rights law, which expanded parents' ability to be involved in their children's school and, among other provisions, allows parents to exempt their children from sex education in schools. 

Grall was unavailable for comment Friday.

A native of Vero Beach, Grall is a partner in her family's Grall Law Group.

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“My family and I are blessed to live in a region, and a state, that values personal freedom and economic opportunity," Grall said in a statement. "Florida stands in stark contrast to the dysfunction of Washington, D.C., and our leaders in the state Senate have been on the front lines of defending our shared priorities — protecting people’s livelihoods, standing up for our schoolchildren and keeping Florida one of the most fiscally sound states in the nation.

“Throughout my tenure in the Florida House of Representatives, I’ve worked hard to advance these shared priorities, and look forward to the opportunity to join with the accomplished and dedicated Republican leaders in the state Senate who’ve led with courage and conviction to keep Florida the freest, most prosperous state in the Union."

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Grall's current House district also would be changing under the proposed maps. Renamed District 34, it would expand to south of Palm Bay, and west beyond Blue Cypress Lake. 

Vero Beach Mayor Robbie Brackett filed in December for the House seat, knowing Grall planned to run for the Senate. He plans to refile paperwork after the proposed maps are finalized because the districts will be numbered differently. 

"I decided (after talking with Grall about her plans) this was an opportunity for me, that maybe I can be an asset (to Vero Beach)," he said. 

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For example, the city is trying to enlist state help in changing the rules for how regional airports are categorized and funded, he said. Having an additional local voice in Tallahassee could be beneficial, he said. 

Brackett is in "full-force campaign" (mode), he said, but is trying to avoid the appearance that he is running against Grall for the House seat. 

Colleen Wixon is the Indian River County government watchdog reporter for TCPalm.com. Contact her at Colleen.Wixon@TCPalm.com or 772-978-2235.