Former Councilman Peter Filiberto Announces Run for Palm Bay City Council Seat 3
Palm Bay, FL — Peter Filiberto, who resigned from the Palm Bay City Council following DUI and drug charges, has officially filed to run for Palm Bay City Council Seat 3. Filiberto returns to politics after a turbulent period marked by legal issues and public controversy.
Filiberto was arrested on February 11, 2023, following a brief police chase that led to charges of DUI, reckless driving, and possession of 10 grams of cocaine. Court records indicate that state attorneys later dropped the reckless driving charge and dismissed other charges. Filiberto was sentenced to 24 months of supervised probation for the cocaine charge and 12 months for the DUI charge. Additionally, he was ordered to pay over $1,600 in court costs and fines, had his driver’s license revoked for six months, and was required to complete 50 hours of community service.
His resignation from the council came six days after the arrest, following a council vote to send a letter to Governor Ron DeSantis demanding his removal. State Representative Randy Fine and Mayor Rob Medina faced criticism for not demanding Filiberto’s resignation sooner.
Seat 5, which Filiberto vacated, has remained empty. A special election is scheduled for November to fill the position. Filiberto has chosen to run for Seat 3, currently held by Councilman Randy Foster, who is not expected to seek re-election due to health issues.
Filiberto’s candidacy has sparked criticism from the community and his political opponents. Chandler Langevin, one of his opponents for Seat 3, stated, “This individual has already betrayed the public’s trust once in an egregious manner. Had the judge done her job and levied a felony conviction on him then he would not legally be allowed to run again. This individual should be thankful he got off so easily and retired from public life. His insistence on running shows a level of selfishness and immaturity that is not reflective of a leader or a man of integrity.”
In addition to Filiberto and Langevin, the race for Seat 3 includes candidates Eileen Mary Sepp, David Anthony Kearns, and Michael J. Bruyette. The primary election for Palm Bay City Council Seat 3 and other city offices is set for August 20, 2024.
