I have spent my entire life here living in District #3 which I currently represent.
Being a third-generation resident of Indian River County I have seen many changes to this place my family has called home for almost one-hundred years. My grandfather moved from South Florida to Indian River County in 1928. My Mother and Father were both raised here, and my two sons live here as a member of the fourth generation.
My family has always made public service a priority, which has made me proud of my country, my state and especially this county. I want to continue my obligation to public service and further accept the responsibility and make sure that local government does what is best for its citizens.
I attended Rosewood Elementary School, Gifford Middle School and graduated from Vero Beach High School. After high school, I volunteered with the Indian River County Volunteer Ambulance Squad, received my EMT certification and joined the Vero Beach Volunteer Fire Dept. In 1980, I graduated from Indian River State College and became a Firefighter/EMT with Indian River County Fire Rescue. While working, I obtained my Paramedic certification and have continued my education throughout my career. I attended SUNY (State University of New York) Distance Learning Program working on a degree in public safety. In 1984 I was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant, and then in 2001 was promoted to Captain, from which I retired in December 2015 with 35 ½ years total service.
I have been a member of the Indian River County Farm Bureau, was President of the Vero Beach Firefighters Association, served as Coordinator for the Indian River County 9/11 Ceremonies, served as General Manager of the Firefighter’s Indian River County Fair, President of the Indian River Neighborhood Association (IRNA), participated in Dancing with Vero Stars (2023), and many other civic groups and various meaningful causes.
While Indian River County is unique to other areas of Florida it is experiencing some of the same problems as other Florida counties. I am working hard every day to preserve our exceptional quality of life so we don’t end up like those other counties where they let growth and development go unchecked.
I am a strong leader and have an open-door policy. I make myself available to any and every citizen that has contacted me. I return emails and phone calls as soon as possible and I listen and make your concerns my priority. I have built a strong relationship with my fellow commissioners, city and town officials and other constitutional officers. I have no hidden agenda; and you always know where I stand on the issues. I do not support special interest groups and I am a fiscally conservative Republican who believes government has a duty to provide essential services correctly and efficiently.
I will continue to work hard for you, the taxpayer…. I humbly ask for your vote and support.
August 20, 2024, Vote Joe Earman for Indian River County Commission District #3…GO JOE!
I have spent my entire life here in Indian River County. I am a third-generation Indian River County resident and a fifth-generation Floridian.
My great-great grandfather John Sites Earman moved from Tavares, Florida to Palm Beach County in the late 1800’s and went to work for Henry Flagler developing Florida’s east coast. He became the first mayor of what is now known as West Palm Beach and had a Lake Worth tributary named after him.
My Great-Grandfather Joseph Lucien Earman, raised in West Palm Beach and was Editor of the Palm Beach Post and served as Municipal Judge for West Palm Beach.
My grandfather, Joseph Simms Earman attended Cornell University and studied agriculture. He moved from Palm Beach County to Indian River County in 1928 as a farmer. Then during the Great Depression, he liquidated failed banks in Florida. He liquidated the Farmers Bank in downtown Vero Beach at 14th Avenue and 20th Street and made all deposits whole.
He founded the Indian River Citrus Bank, selling it a few years later and returned to farming. He established other businesses such as Blue Crystal Water and Ice and was involved in local civic groups and always made public service a priority. He served on the Florida Inland Navigation District and for his community service; has an island in the Indian River named after him known as Joe S. Earman Park.
My father Joe Henry Earman Sr. who was raised in Vero Beach, graduated from Vero Beach High School and then enlisted in the Army Air Corp during World War II. He returned to Vero Beach and married Gladys Holmes, who was born and raised in Wabasso. He worked for his father until he founded Earman Oil Co., Inc. in 1949. Earman Oil became a successful business, and with his best friend James W. Coffey the business expanded into the Courtesy House Auto/Truck Stop located at SR 60 and 90th Avenue. He served on various national state and local boards. He was Governor Reuben Askew’s campaign manager for Indian River County. He served on the IRC Hospital Board and was Indian River County’s first Director of Civil Defense. Also, like his father, he was appointed to the Florida Inland Navigation District.
I am proud of my heritage and my family’s involvement in the community. I would be honored to continue my family’s commitment to community service and continue serving as your County Commissioner for District #3.