For many Central Floridians disenchanted or even disgusted by the state’s current political climate, there is a remedy close at hand — closer, in fact, than many realize. In a handful of local cities including Orlando and one Orange/Osceola-based state House district, voters will have the chance to make their voices heard. And every vote has the potential to make a difference, in ways that will show up almost immediately in the rise or fall of property-tax bills, the growth or lack thereof in nearby neighborhoods and myriad other local decisions.
It’s a limited-time opportunity. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 7. Mail ballots must be received by local elections offices by 7 p.m. that day to be counted. Depending on when you’re reading this and where you live, your opportunity to vote early may have already passed.
But you can still go to the polls Nov. 7. And if you’ll give us a few minutes, we’ll offer some reasons why you should.
Traditionally, all these elections are low-turnout; in some Orlando precincts, fewer than 10 percent of eligible voters cast a ballot in 2021’s municipal elections. That’s a shame — not just because local officials can have such an outsized impact on residents’ quality of life, but because local voters can have such an outsized impact on the decisions their city leaders and legislators make.
In today’s troubled times, it’s a great way to remind yourself that your opinions and priorities count.
It’s also a way to thank those with the courage to step forward and offer their service on city-level councils and commissions. Presidents, governors, even members of Congress live their lives surrounded by layers of staff and earn substantial full-time salaries. But most of the candidates on Tuesday’s ballot are regular folks — juggling their campaigns (and, they hope, their official duties) with day jobs, child care, family duties, retirement activities and other challenges of daily living.
Throughout the 2023 campaign season, the Sentinel has interviewed many of them for our own endorsements. Before we summarize those, we have to say: What we’ve seen is truly impressive.
That’s why we encourage voters to research candidates for themselves — reading news stories, reviewing candidates’ websites and talking to their neighbors about their choices.
Here are our picks:
State House District 35 special election
Republican and Democratic voters will choose their nominees for a January special election to replace former state Rep. Fred Hawkins in a district that includes parts of Orange and Osceola counties.
Endorsement: For House District 35, Democrat Marucci Guzmán by a hair
Democratic primary: Marucci Guzman, a tireless community advocate who is the driving force behind multiple nonprofits and was a finalist for the Sentinel’s 2022 Central Floridian of the Year, is our choice, but only by the narrowest of margins — mostly because of her potential strength against the likely Republican nominee. Any of the three candidates would be a stellar choice.
Republican primary: No recommendation. On the other side of the ballot, all three candidates seem to have made the same cynical choice: Focus on national politics, laced with as much Trumptosterone and DeSanctification as possible, while steering clear of inconvenient questions about what they’d accomplish if elected to the state Legislature. That leaves the way clear for a deceptive pivot, post-election, to appeal to Democratic and nonpartisan voters. Republican voters in District 35 deserved better than this pending betrayal. And all voters should remember this shameless pandering in January.
Orlando City Council
Endorsement: Orlando needs Mayor Buddy Dyer’s skillful leadership
Mayor: Buddy Dyer. Over the past 20 years, Dyer has served as Orlando’s mayor with vision, warmth and honor. He’s been the city’s emotional leader in times of heart-rending crisis and often serves as a voice of reason when dissension threatens to derail critical progress. He is sometimes criticized for being too heavy-handed, but his vision has also been the driving force behind projects such as SunRail and the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts. He’s earned a sixth (and he says, final) term as mayor.
Endorsement: Patty Sheehan has served Orlando City Council’s District 4 well
District 4: Patty Sheehan. Like Dyer, Sheehan has spent two decades serving Orlando voters, and her tireless advocacy for her downtown-anchored district has been a key driver in preserving the city’s focus on historic preservation and retaining a sense of community in the heart of a modern downtown. Voters should keep her on the job.
Endorsement: In Orlando City Council District 6, Bakari Burns merits re-election
District 6: Bakari Burns. District 6, which spans some of Orlando’s most historic yet underprivileged neighborhoods, has made considerable progress during Burns’ first council term. His health-care background gave heft to his demands that District 6 get its fair share of pandemic-fighting resources, and his plans for the future include projects, large and small, that should serve District 6 voters well.
Oviedo
Endorsement: Megan Sladek’s independent thinking a good match for Oviedo’s challenges
Mayor: Megan Sladek. In her first two terms as mayor, Sladek has proven herself to be one of Seminole County’s most innovative thinkers, and someone who isn’t afraid to challenge the status quo. Her vision could be key in attracting more innovative industry and expanding the city’s tax base. She should stay on the job.
Endorsement: Oviedo residents should say ‘yes’ to police funding, economic development
Referendum on city police station: Yes. Oviedo’s police department is clearly bursting at the seams. It’s a shame the city didn’t move ahead with this project when voters first approved it in 2016, but the need hasn’t gone away.
Referendum on economic incentives: Yes. This re-authorizes council members to approve incentive funding, a responsibility they’ve handled well in the past.
Lake Mary
No endorsement: In Lake Mary, voters face a difficult choice between Duryea, Renteria
City Commission District 2: No recommendation. This race pits Lake Mary’s longest-serving commissioner against a repeat challenger who still doesn’t seem to grasp the complexities of city government, which makes us doubt her ability to fulfill her promises of greater transparency. Normally that would tilt our decision in favor of the incumbent, but he barely appears to be campaigning and has offered voters little idea of his plans if elected.
The Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board consists of Opinion Editor Krys Fluker, Editor-in-Chief Julie Anderson and Viewpoints Editor Jay Reddick. Contact us at insight@orlandosentinel.com
