Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Scott PowersMarch 7, 2017

New Orange County Commissioner Emily Bonilla has to be getting used to being a kicked-around rookie on the Board of Commissioners, especially as an outspoken Democrat on a Republican-dominated panel, but Tuesday she got taken down by all of her fellow commissioners. “I feel it is pretty disrespectful,” Bonilla told them during Tuesday’s meeting, after […]

Scott PowersMarch 6, 2017

A fourth candidate has filed to run for the Orange County Commission’s District 4, with the entry of Lake Nona criminologist Nicolette Springer. Springer, 39, a Democrat, is running for the southeast Orange County district seat being vacated in 2018 by Republican Commissioner Jennifer Thompson, who is term-limted. She joins three other Orlando Democrats who […]

Scott PowersFebruary 21, 2017

Facing the increasingly obvious conclusion that its 30-year-old animal services shelter is no longer adequate, Orange County is moving ahead with plans to replace it, but a new one could cost up to $35 million and take several years. The Orange County Board of Commissioners heard that news Tuesday while also reviewing information that showed […]

Scott PowersJanuary 4, 2017

Wednesday is the day that Orange County’s voters figured they had turned their sheriff, tax collector, property appraiser, clerk of courts, supervisor of elections and comptroller into non-partisan, term-limited county officials – but it’s not happening. And it is unclear if it will ever happen. Late Tuesday Judge Bob Leblanc of Florida’s 9th Circuit Court […]

Scott PowersOctober 5, 2016

Betsy VanderLey has won the endorsement of the International Drive Chamber of Commerce in her bid to win a seat on the Orange County Commission in the Nov. 8 election. The chamber picked VanderLey over her opponent, Bobby Olszewski, for the District 1 seat covering western Orange County. “The International Drive Resort Area Chamber of Commerce […]

Scott PowersSeptember 20, 2016

The long-running controversial plan for major development in lands once held as off-limits east of the Econlockhachee River received a critical approval Tuesday night from the Orange County Board of Commissioners. Development and regulating plans for “The Grow,” dubbed “Lake Pickett South” by county planners, calls for a 1,190-acre, 2,078 house plan between Colonial Drive […]

Scott PowersJuly 13, 2016

Orange County’s Maginot Line against development east of the Econlockhatchee River has fallen. The Orange County Board of Commissioners voted 4-3 Tuesday night to support two new developments, dubbed by county planners as Lake Pickett South and Lake Pickett North, that will allow thousands of new homes to be built east of the Econlockhatchee. The […]

Scott PowersJune 28, 2016

The NFL is getting the money it wants to bring the Pro Bowl All-Star Game to Orlando in 2017, ’18 and ’19. The Orange County Board of Commissioners unanimously voted Tuesday to approve spending $1 million a year in tourism development tax to bring the Pro Bowl to Camping World Stadium. The board also approved $137,000 a year […]

Scott PowersMay 6, 2016

Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs has sent messages on two controversial fronts involving the county’s lucrative tourist tax, asking the Tourist Development Council to put up money to attract the NFL Pro Bowl and to think about pushing for an ordinance to deal with future tourist tax issues. The latter request — Jacobs actually only softly suggested […]

Scott PowersMarch 28, 2016

Former Orange County Sheriff Kevin Beary has endorsed Bill Moore for Orange County Commissioner in District 3. “I sincerely believe that Bill Moore is the candidate best suited to understand the issues facing Orange County, chief among them, supporting public safety,” Beary stated in a news release issued by Moore’s campaign. “Bill Moore is the […]

Tag: Orange County Board of Commissioners
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Emily Bonilla clashes with other Orange commissioners over parks appointee

Fourth Democrat, Nicolette Springer, enters Orange County commission race

New Orange County animal shelter would cost $25-35 million

Orange County’s charter amendments falling silently; despite election, no changes in county offices

Betsy VanderLey picks up I-Drive Chamber endorsement in Orange commission race

Orange County approves controversial Lake Pickett ‘The Grow’ plan

Orange County opens door to development east of Econ

Orange County approves Pro Bowl money

Teresa Jacobs urges Orange County tourist board to back Pro Bowl, consider pushing for tax ordinance

Bill Moore gets endorsement of former Orange Sheriff Kevin Beary