As part of our commitment to providing you with what you need to make an informed decision in the 2026 elections, News 6 joined with the News Collaborative of Central Florida to present the Voting Central Florida 2026 Voter’s Guide.
Tuesday, Nov. 3 is the general election, where all registered voters will choose Florida’s next governor, along with a U.S. Senator, statewide cabinet members, U.S. House representatives, Florida state legislators, and various county and city officials. Voters will also decide on three statewide constitutional amendments.
[ELECTION 2026: Make sure you’re eligible to vote|How to vote by mail|Election Myths]
Everything you need to know in order to vote in the November election, including how to vote by mail, vote early, and vote on Election Day, can be found in our Election 2026 section HERE.
Orange County Commission District 7
Orange County’s commissioners are elected in nonpartisan races.
Since none of the candidates in the August election got more than 50% of the vote, the top two vote-getters —Patricia Rumph and Vicki Vargo — moved onto the November election with a runoff.
The county added two new commission seats for the 2026 election, which means the districts the commissioners represent have changed.
County Commission District 7 encompasses part of North Central Orange County, including the areas of Rosemont, Pine Hills, Eatonville and the Ocoee area. You can see a map of the area HERE.
The News Collaborative of Central Florida created a list of common questions to ask the candidates. Questionnaires were sent to all candidates.
Not all of the candidates responded. Where candidates did not respond, we have filled out the information to the best of our abilities.
Our partners at the Orlando Sentinel compiled the candidate responses for the Commission District 7 race, emailing and calling the candidates over several weeks.
You can see the full Orlando Sentinel Voting Guide HERE.
Patricia Rumph
WEBSITE: patriciarumph.com/
Top issues in your race
If elected, what are the THREE most pressing problems you want to address, and what do you suggest to solve them?
YOUR NUMBER 1 ISSUE and how you plan to address it: Affordable Housing
Too many working families, seniors, and young people are being priced out of the communities they call home. As your County Commissioner, I will expand affordable and workforce housing by supporting responsible development, streamlining the permitting process, encouraging public-private partnerships, and ensuring Orange County invests in housing that teachers, first responders, healthcare workers, and other working families can actually afford.
YOUR NUMBER 2 ISSUE and how you plan to address it: Infrastructure and Transportation
Our roads, sidewalks, and transit system must keep pace with Orange County’s growth. I will support smart infrastructure investments, improve traffic safety, expand transportation options, and make sure new development is matched with the infrastructure our communities need.
YOUR NUMBER 3 ISSUE and how you plan to address it: Public Safety
Public safety is one of the county’s most important responsibilities. Drawing on my decades of experience in public service, including nearly 30 years with the Florida Department of Corrections, I will work with our public safety agencies, invest in violence prevention and youth programs, and support emergency preparedness to help keep our neighborhoods safe.
FOR CHALLENGERS AND OPEN SEATS: Why do you deserve to be elected in this race? I have spent decades serving Orange County and have been doing the work long before I became a candidate. As the first and only Orange County Community Ambassador appointed by Mayor Jerry Demings, President of the Pine Hills Community Council, and a longtime public servant with nearly 30 years at the Florida Department of Corrections, I have earned the trust to lead through service. My roots in this community, combined with my experience bringing people together and solving problems, have prepared me to deliver thoughtful, accountable leadership that puts District 7 first.
According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue? Affordability is the issue I hear about most from families across District 7. We need more affordable and workforce housing, stronger support for good-paying jobs, and smart investments in public transportation and infrastructure that reduce everyday costs. I will also advocate for policies that protect working families, support small businesses, and ensure Orange County remains a place where teachers, first responders, seniors, and young families can afford to live and succeed.
Will you vote YES or NO on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position. How would you replace lost revenue – fees and/or service reductions? NO. I support meaningful tax relief for homeowners, but not if it comes at the expense of the local services our residents depend on. Orange County relies on property tax revenue to fund public safety, parks, roads, libraries, and other essential services. Rather than shifting the burden through higher fees or cutting services, we should focus on responsible budgeting, greater government efficiency, and targeted affordability solutions that help working families without weakening our community’s long-term financial stability. The proposed amendment has raised concerns that it could significantly reduce local government revenue and force difficult budget choices.
Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond? Florida’s utility regulators should put residents first by ensuring families are not forced to subsidize the growing energy demands of large data centers and other high-use industries. We need greater transparency, strong oversight, and investments in modern, reliable energy infrastructure so utility costs remain fair, predictable, and affordable for homeowners and small businesses.
What do you think is the biggest environmental issue your government should address in Florida? Protecting our water resources is one of the most important environmental challenges facing Florida. As our community grows, we must balance responsible development with conservation by safeguarding our lakes, springs, wetlands, and drinking water, investing in resilient infrastructure, and preserving green spaces. We owe it to future generations to protect the natural resources that make Central Florida a great place to live.
Vicki Vargo
WEBSITE: votevickivargo.com/
Top issues in your race
If elected, what are the THREE most pressing problems you want to address, and what do you suggest to solve them?
YOUR NUMBER 1 ISSUE and how you plan to address it: Public Safety is always my first priority. Currently, District 7, by far, has the highest number of young people between twelve and seventeen years old committing murder. Many of them do not have prior criminal encounters. I consider this situation a crisis. I am participating in State Attorney Monique Worrell’s community collaboration of the Missing Middle, and what can be done to prevent these young people from ending up in her office and saving the lives of the victims and the future of the wrongdoing pre-teen/teenager. As your County Commissioner, I will bring county assets to the table to turn around this tragic situation. I have ideas. However, this forum does not allow for lengthy responses. Public safety and saving lives are my first priority.
YOUR NUMBER 2 ISSUE and how you plan to address it: Affordable living opportunities are my second priority. One of the reasons for my Number 1 issue is that teenagers are committing crimes to help their mothers pay the family bills. I am looking to expand food giveaway programs to the evenings to support parents who work during the day. There are resources for free food in District 7; however, they are distributed only during the day. I have other ideas.
We need more affordable housing near our largest employers, that is, Orange County Public Schools, Orlando Health, Advent Health, and our tourism/hospitality sector. I do not support doubling impact fees, which would drive up the cost of housing. I have ideas. However, this forum does not allow for lengthy responses.
YOUR NUMBER 3 ISSUE and how you plan to address it: Transportation is my third priority. Rather than expanding service, Lynx needs to focus on its core routes supporting workers. In District 7, Rosemont has a direct line to Disney World. However, this bus stop has lost service even though it is heavily used by workers. The new Lynx station in Pine Hills also runs infrequently Over 50% of the workers in District 7 work in tourism/hospitality. It takes too long to travel to and from work. Lynx needs to transition to driverless vehicles to save costs and increase service. I support the concept of the City of Orlando’s Waymo driverless system. I have ideas. However, this forum does not allow for lengthy responses.
FOR CHALLENGERS AND OPEN SEATS: Why do you deserve to be elected in this race? My experience is unmatched by the other candidates running for District 7. I am a former Orlando City Commissioner and real estate attorney. I have a track record of getting things done. Constituents do not need to wonder if Vicki Vargo will do what she says on the campaign trail. They can look at my record. Go to www.votevickivargo.com and review my endorsements, accomplishments, and education. I have lived in District 7 for thirty-two years, and Pine Hills has not changed for the better. I am a known change agent and will bring progressive, positive change to our District 7 most challenged neighborhoods while augmenting our affluent communities. I am running to better the lives of my neighbors, and I consider all my constituents my neighbors.
According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue? In addition to my references to affordability above, I would support giving incentives to build townhomes and condominiums, a less expensive form of homeownership. I would also consider tiny homes communities for the homeless, many of whom do not like living in apartment communities.
Will you vote YES or NO on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position. How would you replace lost revenue – fees and/or service reductions? Regardless of how property tax relief is decided in November, I believe there is excessive spending in Orange County government. I reviewed the first six-month agenda items for 2025 and found the spending interesting. Currently, there are millions of dollars in funded but unfilled positions. Also, as I walk precincts, I am meeting retired Orange County employees who are telling me about various forms of wasteful spending. As an Orlando City Commissioner, I learned the budgeting/accounting software and looked behind Departments’ budgets for wasteful spending. I intend to do the same as your next County Commissioner. I will start here before considering any other financial avenues.
Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond? Florida utility regulators should require data center owners to pay/bond all their own infrastructure, including expanding electrical grids. Even experts anticipate that some data centers will fail. Local governments or utility companies should not be liable for bonds to build and operate these private enterprises. Further, I am concerned that what is now searchable information that is free on the internet will turn into a fee for every single search, thereby pricing out consumers’ access to data. Florida utility regulators must address this issue.
What do you think is the biggest environmental issue your government should address in Florida? Orange County District 7 has among the worst air quality in Orange County. There are few trees in Pine Hills and other parts of District 7. The Highway 441/John Young Parkway/Old Winter Garden Road corridor is highly industrialized with a lot of freight trucking, warehouses, and manufacturing businesses. Vision 2050 shows the county supporting making the area even more industrial. With the push to build more infill to preserve rural land, this issue will become worse with more consumer/residential traffic. The unspoken consequences of rural preservation/conservation come at the expense of District 7, located in the middle of the county, which is more or less already built out. However, Vision 2050 plans to bring more density and traffic congestion. There must be a balance and plan to offset the consequences. District 7 cannot be expected to suffer the unintended consequences of preserving rural land in other districts.
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