Gov. Ron DeSantis on Friday appointed Mike Crabb to represent District 2 on Orange County\u2019s Board of County Commissioners, making him the incumbent just weeks before he faces off with four other candidates for a full term.<\/p>\n
DeSantis tapped the Orange County Sheriff\u2019s Office lieutenant to fill the vacancy created when former Commissioner Christine Moore resigned to unsuccessfully run for Apopka mayor earlier this year.<\/p>\n
Crabb, who has been with the sheriff\u2019s office for more than 30 years and owns The Shirt Shop USA in Ocoee, will serve out the remainder of Moore\u2019s unfinished second term, which ends in December.<\/p>\n
The seat, representing northwestern Orange County including Apopka and Ocoee, had been vacant since April. Crabb\u2019s appointment returns the board to seven voting members \u2014 which could be crucial as they are expected to consider big-ticket proposals to spend tens of millions of dollars in Tourist Development Tax revenue in the coming months. In addition, the county is set to vote on a nearly $9 billion budget in September.<\/p>\n
Crabb is one of five candidates in a competitive primary election on Aug. 18 for a four-year term on the board representing District 2.\u00a0 Also in the race are former state Rep. Kamia Brown, former chief of staff for a county commissioner Wes Hodge, Ocoee City Commissioner George Oliver III and attorney Marsha Summersill.<\/p>\n
Early voting on the race begins Monday. If no candidate receives at least 50% of the vote, then the two highest finishers advance to a runoff in November.<\/p>\n