<\/p>\n
Orange County Mayor-Elect Tiffany Moore Russell speaks with reporters in downtown Orlando Tuesday night.<\/p>\n
MOLLY DUERIG\/CENTRAL FLORIDA PUBLIC MEDIA<\/p>\n
Tiffany Moore Russell will be Orange County\u2019s next mayor. She\u2019s the first Black woman to be elected to the position.<\/p>\n
Mayor-Elect Moore Russell was the strong frontrunner in Tuesday night\u2019s runoff election, earning nearly 59% of the vote as of 9:30 p.m. with votes in from almost all county precincts. Her opponent, Chris Messina, earned nearly 35% of votes by that same time.<\/p>\n
While the election is nonpartisan, Moore Russell is a Democrat and Messina is a Republican.<\/p>\n
Moore Russell will be sworn into office next month, a spokesperson said, replacing outgoing mayor Jerry Demings. Moore Russell called her historic win as the first Black woman to be elected Orange County mayor \u201cexciting.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI think we\u2019re still breaking barriers here in this country, and in Florida, and in Orange County,\u201d Moore Russell said. \u201cFor me, it’s hoping to be an example to that next young lady who’s looking to say she wants to run for office one day.\u201d<\/p>\n
On historic win<\/p>\n
Earlier in the night, speaking to a room packed full of more than a hundred supporters in downtown Orlando, Moore Russell shared an anecdote she\u2019d heard from a voter.<\/p>\n
The voter\u2019s 7-year-old daughter had searched for the candidate\u2019s name on her mother\u2019s ballot, \u201cso they could elect the first Black female mayor in Orange County,\u201d Moore Russell said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don’t take that lightly,\u201d Moore Russell said. \u201cHistory means very little if we don’t use it to open the door wider for people coming behind us.\u201d<\/p>\n
Addressing that young girl, she went on: \u201cIf you’re watching me tonight, know this: you belong in every room where decisions are being made.\u201d<\/p>\n
Throughout her campaign, the former clerk of courts and county commissioner often touted her prior experience working in county government.<\/p>\n
It was a point Messina had used against her, referring to Moore Russell as \u201canother recycled politician,\u201d without business experience like himself.<\/p>\n
On Amendment 3<\/p>\n
Just as Moore Russell was celebrating her victory, Orange County voters were also making the close call to approve Amendment 3, a proposed constitutional amendment that \u2014 for some homeowners \u2014 would eliminate all non-school property taxes by fiscal year 2028-29. It\u2019s a proposal Moore Russel has adamantly opposed.<\/p>\n
Nearly 49% of voters in the Democratic-majority county approved Amendment 3, with nearly 47% voting against. Statewide, the measure passed with nearly 62% of the vote.<\/p>\n
By fiscal year 2028-29, Florida counties would lose more than $5 billion in property tax revenues under Amendment 3, according to the Florida Association of Counties\u2019 statewide estimate<\/a>.<\/p>\n In Orange County, property tax revenues would drop by roughly $165 million in 2027, then another $275 million the following year \u2014 affecting the local government\u2019s \u201cability to fund services, maintain infrastructure, and address the needs of a growing community,\u201d according to the county<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cI mean, it’s going to be tough,\u201d Moore Russell said Tuesday, responding to reporters\u2019 questions about Amendment 3\u2019s apparent victory. \u201cBut that’s what the residents are calling for us to do.\u201d<\/p>\n It\u2019s a possibility Moore Russell and her team had been preparing for, given resounding affordability challenges, she said. \u201cWe were hearing from voters that they are feeling the pinch.\u201d<\/p>\n The biggest challenge, Moore Russell said, will be making up the lost revenue and, simultaneously, ensuring \u201cwe don\u2019t sacrifice the quality of our services to the residents of Orange County.\u201d<\/p>\n A subcommittee on Moore Russell\u2019s transition team will be dedicated to “finances, understanding county governance, and making recommendations\u201d on how to make up for the revenue loss and make necessary \u201ctough changes,\u201d the mayor-elect said.<\/p>\n Reached Tuesday night, Chris Messina called his loss \u201cdisappointing \u2014 but \u201cit wasn\u2019t totally unexpected,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cThere was a big funding gap [between the two campaigns], and we knew that would be a bit of a disadvantage,\u201d Messina said.<\/p>\n