Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Scott PowersSeptember 29, 2017

Republican Orange County School Board Chairman Bill Sublette is entering the race for Orange County mayor. Sublette, a former member of the Florida House of Representatives, filed his paperwork Friday with the Orange County Supervisor of Elections, becoming the first major Republican to enter the race to replace outgoing Mayor Teresa Jacobs, also a Republican, […]

Scott PowersAugust 29, 2017

Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings is kicking off his 2018 Orange County mayoral campaign fundraising with a fundraiser Tuesday night that features Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and scores of others on the host committee. The fundraiser, set for the Dubsdread Golf Course ballroom, starting at 5:30 p.m. Demings, a Democrat, is the sole major candidate […]

Scott PowersAugust 25, 2017

Orange County Commissioner Pete Clarke acknowledged at a Republican Party meeting in Orlando Thursday night and again on Friday that he is in the race for Orange County mayor, just not officially yet. Clarke, elected to his second term on the commission last November to represent District 3 in south-central Orange County, was introduced at […]

Scott PowersJuly 6, 2017

Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings has made official the worst-kept secret of the year in Central Florida politics: that he’s running for mayor of Orange County. Yet Demings, a Democrat, hasn’t officially announced anything yet. He has, however, filed his paperwork, late Thursday, with the Orange County Supervisor of Elections Office, officially declaring his candidacy. […]

Scott PowersJune 29, 2017

Everyone in Orange County politics, it seems, is waiting to see if Sheriff Jerry Demings will run for county mayor, and he’s about to let people know. Demings, a Democrat, said Thursday he will be announcing soon whether he intends to run for Orange County mayor in 2018, an announcement that has set up dominoes […]

Scott PowersJune 23, 2017

Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs said Friday she’s not currently talking to anyone about running for Congress against Democratic incumbent U.S. Rep. Stephanie Murphy and expressed little immediate enthusiasm for the prospect. While also disclosing no immediate activity for either race, Jacobs appeared to show at least a glimmer of interest in running for the […]

Scott PowersMay 1, 2017

As the future race for Orange County mayor continues to be a mystery involving potential major candidates still thinking about it but none yet committing, one name that keeps coming up raises questions of precedent and interpretation of curious language differences in the county charter. Former Orange County Mayor Rich Crotty, who served two-plus terms […]

Scott PowersMarch 14, 2017

A social media campaign to draft Anna Eskamani to run for Orange County mayor is catching steam on Facebook and has convinced at least one major potential mayoral candidate to declare he won’t run because he’d rather back her – Bob Poe. Eskamani, a 26-year-old Orlando Democrat who is director of external affairs for Planned […]

Scott PowersJune 9, 2016

A critical vote on Orange County’s tourist tax Thursday night virtually assured there will be no more changes anytime soon in how that money is spent, and led to a threatening, name-calling confrontation between Mayor Teresa Jacobs and hotel czar Harris Rosen. Rosen is an influential outlier in Orlando’s tourism industry and a big proponent […]

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 […]

Tag: Orange County Mayor

Bill Sublette entering Orange County mayor’s race

Jerry Demings fundraising kickoff set for Tuesday night

Orange County Commissioner Pete Clarke running for Orange County mayor

Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings files to run for Orange County Mayor

Orange Sheriff Jerry Demings to announce soon on county mayor’s race

Teresa Jacobs not talking about possible CD 7 run, but expresses a glimmer of interest in CFO run

As Orange County mayor’s race awaits major candidates, can Rich Crotty run again?

Draft-Anna Eskamani for Orange Mayor movement draws Bob Poe backing

Orange County tourist tax issue headed to ballot

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