In 2014, Debbie Thomas was elected to be the Vice Mayor for the City of Melbourne. A long time Brevard county resident, it makes sense that someone with such a love for and connection to the Space Coast would be elected to serve it. Of course, while Thomas loves her profession, she loves her family even more: “Being a mother has been the best thing to happen to me.”

Though she has an entire community to serve, her children are at the center of everything she does. “When you become a mother, you go from being selfish to selfless in a way, and I think every mother can agree that you would do anything for your kids.” Even when taking on her profession four years ago, she learned not only to not fear failure, but to push past it, both for herself and for her children. “I wanted to prove to my kids that they could do whatever they wanted as long as they believe in themselves.”

Thomas has enjoyed raising her children on the Space Coast and has loved every second of watching her kids grow into successful adults. “It really is the best feeling watching your kids be successful and happy after all the years spent trying to teach them and shape them into the people they have become.” And what has Thomas taught her children? Well, it’s twofold. Like her mother, she has learned and passed on the idea that, as life is so short, we must cherish every moment. The other has been to live life through kindness. “I want [my children] to appreciate life and its moments, and only spread happiness to themselves and the people around them.”

Sara Santora
Managing Editor at SpaceCoast Magazines | Website

As a Space Coast native, Sara enjoys using her love of writing to speak directly to the community that raised her. She graduated from Florida State University with a B.A. in English, and has written for a variety of magazines; however, her love for publishing and writing developed as a young girl, when she received her first copy of Teen Vogue. When she isn't writing or at work, she is traveling around the state with friends, visiting coffee shops, going to live shows and brushing up on her photography skills. Follow her on Instagram or connect with her on LinkedIn.