Brevard County Commission District 5
District 5 contains the towns of: Palm Bay , Indialantic , Melbourne Village , West Melbourne and Melbourne .
Notable named place is: Melbourne International Airport.
Commissioner Thad Altman
Thad Altman is a lifelong resident of Brevard County. He is a husband of a veteran educator, a father of three, and a grandfather. In addition to his honorable public service in the Florida House and Senate, Altman serves as President/CEO of the Astronauts Memorial Foundation at KSC.
Thad’s priorities as your District 5 County Commissioner are: growth management and infrastructure; decorum; preserving our natural resources; and improving our quality of life.
Brevard County Commission District 5 Staff
Ashley Holton, District Aide
Ashley is a lifelong resident of Brevard County and a graduate of Melbourne High School. She and her husband, Très, have been married for over 25 years and reside in Palm Bay. They are the proud parents of two children: a son in college and a daughter in high school. Midway through her professional career, Ashley took a hiatus to focus on supporting her autistic son with his academic studies. She brings over 16 years of administrative experience to the commissioner's office, including four years as a district aide for the Florida House of Representatives. Ashley enjoys reading, hiking, and spending time with her family.
Danielle Stern, Chief of Staff
Danielle was born and raised in Melbourne, Florida. She graduated with a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of Central Florida. Danielle worked as the Corporate and Convention Sales Representative at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex from 1996-2000. She started her employment with Brevard County in 2000 in the Stormwater Department as the Public Education and Information Officer. She was then promoted to Communications Director overseeing SCGTV, Brevard County Website and all public relations functions from 2002-2005. After a brief hiatus from the county, Danielle returned in 2010 to work in the District Five Commission Office, serving both Commissioners Andy Anderson and Kristine Zonka through both their terms. She is married to Gary Stern and has one son.
Janette Gianella, Legislative Affairs Director
Janette was born in Edison, New Jersey and raised in Palm Bay Florida. She graduated with an Associates in Arts and Bachelor’s Degree in Organizational Management. She previously worked as a Medical Assistant for 5 years before becoming a Legislative Aide in 2018 where she was then promoted to Legislative Affairs Director in 2021. Janette is also a small business owner that creates handcrafted succulent arrangements and decor. One of her favorite things to do is give back to the community by supporting small local businesses. Being a mom is her proudest title and creating memories with her two children is what she loves the most.