ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – A wide variety of elections took place in Orange County on Tuesday, March 10.
Residents from Apopka to Winter Park casted ballots on commissioner, mayoral and council seat positions, as well as vote on a number of amendments.
Here’s a closer look at the candidates running and charter amendments on the ballots.
You can view ALL election results by clicking here.
City of Apopka
Mayor
Christine Moore
Bryan Nelson
Nicholas L. Nesta III
The winner is unknown but Bryan Nelson is out as mayor. Learn more here.
City Council Seat 1 (Vote for one)
Sam Ruth (Winner)
Alexander Smith
City Council Seat 2 (Vote for one)
George “Smitty” Smith
Angela D. Turner
Diane Velazquez (Winner)
City Council Seat 4 (Vote for one)
Yesenia “Jesi” Baron (Winner)
Malika Harrison
Question #1
Changing from Mayor Council to Council-Manager Form of Government Allowing 120 Days for Transition
Amending the Charter to change from the “Mayor Council” form of government to the “Council-Manager” form of government and providing for a 120-day transition period.
Question #2
Amending the Name of the Governing Body from City Council to City Commission
Amending the name of the City’s governing body from “City Council” to “City Commission” and the official designation of “Council Member” to “Commissioner.”
Question #3
Clarifying that the City Clerk Performs a Ministerial Function in Reviewing Candidate Qualifying Papers
Clarifying that the city clerk performs a ministerial function in reviewing candidate qualifying papers and does not determine whether the contents of the qualifying papers are accurate.
Question #4
Changing the Date for Regular City Elections to the Second Tuesday in March
Amending the Charter by changing the date for regular City elections from the first Tuesday in December to the second Tuesday of March in those years when an election is required.
Question #5
Creating Term Limits for Elected Officials and Establishing Minimum Period of Ineligibility After Term Limits
Amending the Charter by creating term limits of two consecutive terms for city commissioners and two consecutive terms for Mayors and establishing a four-year period of ineligibility for the same office for individuals after being term limited.
Question #6
Establishing “At Will” Status of Employees; Limiting Employment Contracts to those Approved by Commission
Amending the Charter by establishing that all city employees shall be considered “at will” employees subject only to any applicable collective bargaining agreement or an employment contract, contract extension, modification, amendment or recission approved by a majority vote of the city commission at a regularly scheduled meeting.
Question #7
Establishing that the City Clerk and City Attorney are Appointed by the City Commission
Amending the Charter by establishing that the city clerk and city attorney are appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the city commission
Question #8
Establishing a Public Comment Period Before Meeting Decision Items are Considered by the City Commission
Amending the Charter by establishing a public comment period before meeting decision items are considered by the city commission.
City of Maitland
City Council Seat 2
Keith Givens (Winner)
Alexander Trauger
City of Oakland
Town Commissioner Seat 4 (Vote for One)
Anne Fulton
Joseph P. McMullen (Winner)
Question #1
Charter Amendment Revising Procedures for Filling Town Commission Vacancies
Amending the Town of Oakland Charter to revise, from 30 days to 90 days, the time period in which the Town Commission must fill vacancies in its membership by appointment, and to provide that if not filled in that time, the vacancy shall be filled by special election, rather than appointment by the Governor.
Question #2
Charter Amendment Revising Town Commission Voting Thresholds
The Town of Oakland Charter currently requires an affirmative vote of three (of five) Town Commission members to approve any matter if the other two Town Commission members are unavailable to vote due to abstention required by state law. Amending the Town Charter to apply this requirement to either the abstention, or absence, of two Town Commission Members.
Question #3
Charter Amendment Removing Requirement for Run-Off Elections
Amending the Town of Oakland Charter to provide that the candidate for Mayor or a Town Commission seat receiving the most votes in the General Election shall be duly elected, and removing the requirement for run-off elections where no candidate receives over 50% of the votes cast.
Question #4
Charter Amendment Revising Methods of Qualifying for Town Commission Elections
Amending the Town of Oakland Charter to remove the collection of signature cards (from 10% of the Town’s registered voters or 100 voters, whichever is less) as an alternate method of qualifying for Town Commission elections, leaving the filing of a written notice of candidacy and payment of the $100 qualifying fee as the sole method of qualification.
Question #5
Charter Amendment Removing Provision Relating to Conflicting Charter Amendments
Amending the Town of Oakland Charter to remove a provision relating to the adoption of conflicting Charter amendments at the same election.
Question #6
Charter Amendment Correcting Errors and Omissions
Amending the Town of Oakland Charter to correct various scriveners, grammatical, and wording errors, add clarifying language, and correct a clerical omission by clarifying that the Town Manager designates, subject to the Town Commission’s approval, a qualified Town employee as Acting Town Manager during the Town Manager’s temporary absence or disability.