Standing on Principle

Titusville City Council • Seat 5

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About the Candidate

About Christopher Childs

Christopher Childs is a lifelong problem-solver, entrepreneur, and civic advocate committed to transparency, accountability, and responsible infrastructure-first growth planning that protects neighborhoods, infrastructure, and quality of life in Titusville.

Since 2021, Christopher has served on the Titusville Planning and Zoning Commission, where he currently serves as Vice-Chairman. In that role, he has reviewed major development proposals, zoning changes, and long-term planning initiatives, bringing a data-driven, citizen-focused perspective to decisions that shape the city’s future. He believes growth should be responsible, transparent, and aligned with the interests of residents, not special interests.

Outside of public service, Christopher is a technology entrepreneur with extensive experience building and operating businesses that serve local communities. He is the founder of multiple platforms focused on events, civic engagement, and small-business support, including ticketing systems, local marketplaces, and civic information tools designed to improve transparency and public access to information. His work often bridges technology and government, with a focus on efficiency, accountability, and public trust.

Christopher has hands-on experience managing budgets, overseeing vendors, building software platforms from the ground up, and ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements; those are skills he brings to his approach to city governance. He is particularly focused on rooting out waste, preventing misuse of public funds, and ensuring taxpayer dollars are spent responsibly.

A strong believer in community involvement, Christopher is also a husband and father of four children. His commitment to public service is deeply personal, and rooted in the desire to leave behind a city that is ethical, financially responsible, and safe for future generations.

Christopher is running for Titusville City Council to bring independent oversight, common-sense governance, and transparency to City Hall... because local government works best when it works for the people.

My Platform

Public Safety

I support well-funded, well-trained police, fire, and EMS services. Keeping Titusville safe means giving first responders the resources they need, building trust between officers and the community, and holding the line on response times, all while respecting civil liberties.

Infrastructure-First Growth

New development should never outpace the infrastructure that supports it. I will ensure our roads, drainage, and utilities are ready before new projects move forward, and that zoning and land-use changes respect the neighbors who are already here. Flooding is not someone else's problem; it is a priority I take seriously.

Rooting Out Corruption

Our community deserves leadership that will not only foster growth but root out corruption wherever it hides. Recently, we saw firsthand that accountability matters when a city staff member was arrested for stealing from the people. I’m running to bring transparency, eliminate wasteful spending, and ensure we have a city government that works for every resident. Together, we’ll build a culture of trust, integrity, and a future where Titusville thrives.

Block the Flock

I oppose expanding the Flock camera program and support warrant-based access with limited emergency exceptions, strict oversight, and full transparency. Public safety and civil liberties are not opposites; we can protect both.

Cutting Waste

Cutting waste is key to affordability. I will work to eliminate wasteful spending, strengthen oversight, and protect taxpayer dollars so we can keep taxes as low as possible and ensure city government works for residents, not itself.

I support smart policing and responsible technology, but powerful surveillance tools must come with clear limits and public accountability.

I do not support expanding the Flock camera program. Instead, I support strict guardrails to ensure it is used only when justified and never as a tool for routine or mass surveillance.

My Position

Default Rule

Access to Flock camera data should require a judicial warrant when searches are tied to:

A specific individual
A specific address
A pattern of movement over time

Common-Sense Exceptions

Warrantless access may be allowed only in clearly defined emergency situations, including:

Active emergencies involving immediate threat to life
Missing persons or endangered individuals
Amber Alerts
Confirmed stolen vehicle alerts

Required Safeguards

Supervisor approval for all searches
Written justification for each access
After-the-fact judicial review for emergency use
Strict data-retention limits
Public transparency reports on how and when the system is used
Independent audits to prevent misuse

Why This Matters

A single observation of a license plate is public.
Mass, automated tracking over time is different.

This approach protects public safety without normalizing constant surveillance or turning everyday residents into suspects.

Technology should help law enforcement do their jobs, not erode constitutional protections.

Growth is not the enemy, but growth without planning is. New development should strengthen our community, not strain it. That means infrastructure must come first, neighbors must be heard, and flooding must be treated as the serious, urgent issue it is.

Infrastructure Before Development

Before any new development is approved, we must ask a simple question: Is our infrastructure ready?

Roads, drainage, water, and sewer capacity must be evaluated before new projects are greenlit, not after problems arise
Developers should bear a fair share of the cost of infrastructure improvements their projects require
The city should maintain an infrastructure readiness standard that new developments must meet as a condition of approval
No more approving growth that leaves existing residents stuck with the consequences

Zoning & Land-Use Changes That Respect Neighbors

Zoning decisions don't just affect the property being changed; they affect everyone nearby.

Every zoning or land-use change must be evaluated for its impact on surrounding properties and neighborhoods
Residents who live next to a proposed change deserve meaningful notice, a real opportunity to be heard, and assurance their concerns are taken seriously
Compatibility with the existing neighborhood character should be a key factor in every decision, not an afterthought
I will not support changes that benefit developers at the expense of the people already living there

Taking Flooding Seriously

Flooding is one of the most common and costly concerns I hear from Titusville residents, and it deserves to be treated as a top priority.

I will push for comprehensive stormwater and drainage assessments, especially in areas with repeated flooding
New development must not worsen drainage conditions for existing neighborhoods
The city should pursue every available state and federal funding source for stormwater infrastructure improvements
Residents who have dealt with flooding for years should not have to keep waiting. I will make this a visible, trackable priority on council

Flooding is not just an inconvenience; it damages homes, lowers property values, and disrupts lives. I will not treat it as background noise.

Public safety is not negotiable; it is one of city government's most fundamental responsibilities. I believe in giving our police, fire, and EMS professionals the funding, staffing, and support they need to do their jobs effectively, while maintaining the community's trust through transparency, accountability, and respect for civil liberties.

Staffing & Resources

Our first responders can only protect the community if they have the people and tools to do it.

Support competitive pay and benefits to recruit and retain quality officers, firefighters, and paramedics
Ensure staffing levels keep pace with the city's growth so response times don't suffer
Invest in equipment, training, and technology that help first responders work safely and effectively
Prioritize public safety in the city budget, not as an afterthought, but as a core commitment

Community-Oriented Policing

A safe city is one where residents and law enforcement work together.

Encourage officers to build relationships in the neighborhoods they serve
Support community engagement programs that increase visibility and trust
Focus law enforcement resources on real crime, not mass surveillance of everyday residents
Promote de-escalation training and smart policing strategies that protect both officers and civilians

Accountability & Transparency

Supporting law enforcement and demanding accountability are not opposites.

Clear use-of-force policies and proper training standards
Transparent reporting on department performance, response times, and use of resources
Mechanisms for residents to raise concerns and be heard
Oversight that strengthens public trust in the department

Public Safety & Civil Liberties

You should not have to choose between being safe and being free. I support giving law enforcement every tool they need to fight real crime, while drawing a clear line against surveillance overreach and protecting the constitutional rights of every resident.

That is why I support strong public safety funding and strict limits on programs like Flock, because both positions are rooted in the same principle: government should serve and protect its people, not monitor them.

Election Q & A

When is the election?

August 18th, 2026 (if more than two candidates qualify)
November 3rd, 2026 (if only two candidates qualify)

Who can vote in this race?

Any registered voter living within the city limits

How many seats make up the city council?

5 seats, which includes the Mayor.

Which seats are up for the 2026 election?

3 seats are up for election: Seat 1, Seat 3, and Seat 5.

Seat 1 is currently held by Herman Cole.
Seat 3 is currently held by Megan Moscoso.
Seat 5 is currently held by Jo Lynn Nelson.

What does "at-large" mean?

There are no districts
Every voter can vote for every city council seat up for election

How many candidates can I vote for?

One per seat (not multiple for the same seat)

Is this a partisan race?

City council races are nonpartisan

What happens if no one gets 50% in August?

Top two advance to November

What does a city council member actually do?

City council members make ordinances, approve zoning and rezoning decisions, set the city's property tax rate, adjust water and sewer rates, and establish priorities for the City Manager, who handles the day-to-day operations of the city.

Can city council lower my taxes?

Yes. City council sets the city portion of your property tax rate. While council does not control county or school taxes, it directly controls how much the city collects and spends.

Does city council control the police department?

No. The City Manager is responsible for hiring and firing the Police Chief and overseeing the police department's daily operations.

Who can city council hire or fire?

City council's direct authority to hire or fire is limited to:

• The City Manager
• The City Attorney
• The Assistant City Attorney

All other city employees are managed by the City Manager.

What is the difference between city council and the city manager?

The City Manager runs the city's daily operations, while the City Council sets the overall direction, policies, and priorities for the city.

Who is responsible for zoning decisions?

City council is ultimately responsible for all zoning and rezoning decisions within the city.

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Paid for by Christopher Childs for Titusville City Council Seat 5. Contributions are not tax deductible.

Standing on Principle

About the Candidate

About Christopher Childs

My Platform

Public Safety

Infrastructure-First Growth

Rooting Out Corruption

Block the Flock

Cutting Waste

Cutting Waste

My Commitment

Strong Oversight & Accountability

Why This Matters

Block the Flock

My Position

Default Rule

Common-Sense Exceptions

Required Safeguards

Why This Matters

Infrastructure-First Growth

Infrastructure Before Development

Zoning & Land-Use Changes That Respect Neighbors

Taking Flooding Seriously

Public Safety

Staffing & Resources

Community-Oriented Policing

Accountability & Transparency

Public Safety & Civil Liberties

Election Q & A

Get Involved

Join Our Campaign