WESH.COM AND ON WESH TWO NEWS MOBILE APP. IN COMMITMENT 2025, LOCAL ELECTIONS COMMISSIONER SHANNON ROSE WILL BE HEADING BACK TO CITY HALL. ROSE BEAT FORMER COMMISSIONER REGINA HILL AND LAWANNA GELZER, GAINING THE VOTES TO KEEP HER DISTRICT FIVE SEAT IN ORLANDO. NOW THE RACE WAS CONTENTIOUS AFTER GOVERNOR DESANTIS REMOVED HIM FROM OFFICE AFTER HER ARREST. HILL IS STILL FACING CHARGES, ACCUSED OF DEFRAUDING AN ELDERLY CONSTITUENT. HILL DENIES THE ALLEGATIONS. WESH 2’S GAIL PASCHALL-BROWN HAS BEEN FOLLOWING THE RACE FOR MONTHS. SHE’S LIVE IN DOWNTOWN ORLANDO TONIGHT WITH THE LATEST GAIL. THAT’S RIGHT, I’M ON WEST CHURCH STREET. THIS IS JUST OUTSIDE WHERE REGINA HILL’S WATCH PARTY WAS HELD, AND THOUGH SHE SAYS THIS WAS A HARD FOUGHT BATTLE, SHE DID NOT RECLAIM HER SEAT. SHE WAS UNSUCCESSFUL FOR ORLANDO CITY COMMISSIONER, DISTRICT FIVE. NOW, SHAN ROSE SAYS THE PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN. THANK YOU. DISTRICT FIVE, FOR FOUR MORE YEARS. I GUESS THAT’S WHAT I WAS SUPPOSED TO SAY. FOUR MORE YEARS. AN ELATED SHAN ROSE AND SUPPORTERS AT THE AROMA ART CAFE IN ORLANDO CELEBRATED HER HUGE VICTORY FOR DISTRICT FIVE. ORLANDO CITY COMMISSIONER PULLING IN MORE THAN 51% OF THE VOTES, COMPARED TO REGINA HILL’S 33% AND LUANA 15%. THE PEOPLE OF DISTRICT FIVE FOR GIVING ME A CHANCE TO SERVE FOR FOUR MORE YEARS. IT HAS BEEN A JOY AND A PLEASURE, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO SERVE. I’M EXCITED. IT’S BEEN A CONTENTIOUS BATTLE BETWEEN SHAN ROSE AND REGINA HILL. ALL HOPE IS NOT LOST. WE HAVE DONE GREAT WORK TOGETHER IN THIS COMMUNITY. HILL AND HER SUPPORTERS PACKED THE OBSIDIAN LOUNGE ON WEST CHURCH STREET. I’LL BE GOING DOWN TO SUPERVISOR ELECTIONS OFFICE. LIKE ALL CANDIDATES DO, TO REVIEW THE BALLOTS WITH MY TEAM TO CHECK SIGNATURES. YOU KNOW, IT’S 1% IS A SHORT PERCENTAGE, AND WE’RE LOOKING FOR 50 FOR THE RUNOFF. AND, YOU KNOW, WE’LL WE’LL TAKE TONIGHT REGROUP AND TOMORROW COMES. AND FOR TONIGHT. I CONGRATULATE THE. COMMISSIONER ROSE. I WISH HER ALL THE BEST. I PRAY FOR HER. NO ONE SHOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE HARDSHIPS AND HEARTACHES THAT SHE’S GOING THROUGH. SO I WISH HER ALL THE BEST. HOPEFULLY WE CAN WORK TOGETHER AS THINGS PLAY OUT. BUT I’M HERE. MY DOORS ARE OPEN WITH BOTH CANDIDATES. THAT INCLUDES LUANA GESSLER. ROSE SAYS SHE WILL CONTINUE TO SERVE AS SHE HAS FOR THE PAST 15 MONTHS, WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT. BUT REGINA HILL ADDS, THIS RACE HAS BEEN ONE OF THE NASTIEST CAMPAIGNS. I WOKE UP TO ME BEING CALLED A THIEF. I WOKE UP TO THEM SAYING I’M A FRAUD. I WOKE UP BEING ACCUSED OF STEALING $100,000 FROM SOMEONE, JUST THIS MORNING, MY MOM. SO THAT WAS ANOTHER PLAY INTO THE PSYCHE OF OUR VOTERS. NOW, REGINA HILL DOES SAY THAT SHE BELIEVES THAT HER CRIMINAL CASE WAS A FACTOR IN THE OUTCOME OF THIS RACE. ROSE, WHO NEEDED MORE THAN 50% OF THE VOTE TO RUN OFF TO AVOID A RUNOFF, TOOK IN 51.84% COMPARED TO REGINA HILL’S 33% COVERING ORANGE COUNTY. LIVE IN ORLANDO. I’M GAIL PASCHALL-BROWN, WESH TWO NEWS. ALL RIGHT. I WANT TO TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF THE OTHER RACES IN ORLANDO CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT ONE, THE SOUTHEAST PORTION OF THE CITY. TOM KEENE IS PROJECTED TO BEAT CURRENT COMMISSIONER JIM GRAY. GRAY WAS FIRST ELECTED IN 2012 AND IN DISTRICT THREE, IN THE NORTHERN PORTION OF THE CITY, THE RACE IS HEADING INTO A RUNOFF. ROGER CHAPIN IS AHEAD OF MERRITT BY JUST 13 VOTES. AND IT GOES TO SHOW YOU THAT EVERY VOTE COUNTS. SINCE NO CANDIDATE REACHED 50%, THEY WILL GO HEAD TO HEAD IN A RUNOFF ON DECEMBER 9TH, AND INCUMBENT ROBERT STEWART DID NOT RUN. REMEMBER, WE HAD RACES IN LAKE HELEN, CLERMONT MASCOT, MONTVERDE, TAVARES, NEW SMYRNA BEACH, MELBOURNE AND GROVELAND. YOU CAN GET ALL OF
Shan Rose wins Orlando City Commissioner race defeating Regina Hill and Lawanna Gelzer
Updated: 11:43 PM EST Nov 4, 2025
Shan Rose will continue her role as Orlando City Commissioner for District 5 after winning a contentious election against former Commissioner Regina Hill and Lawanna Gelzer, securing over 51% of the votes to avoid a runoff.The race was marked by controversy following Governor Ron DeSantis’s removal of Hill from office after her arrest.Hill is facing charges of defrauding an elderly constituent, which she denies. “Thank you District 5, four more years, four more years. I guess that’s what I was supposed to say four more years,” Rose said, celebrating her victory at the Arome Art Cafe in Orlando.Rose expressed her gratitude to the voters, saying, “The people of District Five have given me a chance to serve four more years. It’s been a joy and a pleasure, and I look forward to continue to serve. I’m excited.”Regina Hill, who gathered with supporters at the Obsidian Lounge on West Church Street, acknowledged the defeat but remained hopeful. “All hope is not lost. We have done great work together in this community,” Hill said.She plans to review the ballots with her team.”I will be going down to the Supervisor of Elections Office, like all candidates do, to review the ballots with my team to check signatures. One percent is short percentage, and we’re losing for 50 for the runoff. We’ll take tonight and regroup, and for tonight I congratulate Commissioner Rose,” Hill said. Rose extended an olive branch to her opponents, saying, “I wish her all the best. I pray for her. No one should have to go through the hardships and the heartaches that she’s gone through. So I wish her all the best. Hopefully, we can work together. I’m here, my doors are open for both candidates.” Despite the victory, Hill described the campaign as one of the nastiest she has experienced. “I woke up to being called a thief. I woke up to them saying I’m a fraud. I woke up being accused of stealing $100,000 from someone one, just this morning, so that was another play to the psyche of our voters,” Hill said, suggesting her criminal case influenced the election outcome.Rose, who has served for the past 15 months, pledged to continue her service with dignity and respect.
ORLANDO, Fla. —
Shan Rose will continue her role as Orlando City Commissioner for District 5 after winning a contentious election against former Commissioner Regina Hill and Lawanna Gelzer, securing over 51% of the votes to avoid a runoff.
The race was marked by controversy following Governor Ron DeSantis’s removal of Hill from office after her arrest.
Hill is facing charges of defrauding an elderly constituent, which she denies. “Thank you District 5, four more years, four more years. I guess that’s what I was supposed to say four more years,” Rose said, celebrating her victory at the Arome Art Cafe in Orlando.
Rose expressed her gratitude to the voters, saying, “The people of District Five have given me a chance to serve four more years. It’s been a joy and a pleasure, and I look forward to continue to serve. I’m excited.”
Regina Hill, who gathered with supporters at the Obsidian Lounge on West Church Street, acknowledged the defeat but remained hopeful. “All hope is not lost. We have done great work together in this community,” Hill said.
She plans to review the ballots with her team.
“I will be going down to the Supervisor of Elections Office, like all candidates do, to review the ballots with my team to check signatures. One percent is short percentage, and we’re losing for 50 for the runoff. We’ll take tonight and regroup, and for tonight I congratulate Commissioner Rose,” Hill said.
Rose extended an olive branch to her opponents, saying, “I wish her all the best. I pray for her. No one should have to go through the hardships and the heartaches that she’s gone through. So I wish her all the best. Hopefully, we can work together. I’m here, my doors are open for both candidates.”
Despite the victory, Hill described the campaign as one of the nastiest she has experienced. “I woke up to being called a thief. I woke up to them saying I’m a fraud. I woke up being accused of stealing $100,000 from someone one, just this morning, so that was another play to the psyche of our voters,” Hill said, suggesting her criminal case influenced the election outcome.
Rose, who has served for the past 15 months, pledged to continue her service with dignity and respect.