FLORIDA — As voters went to the polls Tuesday, elections officials across Central Florida began tabulating those results, and combining them with the ballots submitted by mail. Former President Donald Trump has already garnered enough electoral votes to clinch the Republican nomination, but party members statewide had the opportunity to vote for him and several other candidates who dropped out, but still appeared on the ballot as a result of their prior ballot access actions.
Early voting took place from March 9 through March 16. Voters in Orange and Osceola counties were able to vote early on March 17 as well.
Here are the municipal elections taking place in Orange County on March 19: (Winners will be displayed in bold when their race is called. Percentages will appear next to candidate names)
Only the Republican primary is present, since the Democratic Primary was canceled because President Joe Biden has enough delegates to clinch his nomination.
Republican Primary for President
Ryan L. Binkley
Chris Christie
Ron DeSantis
Nikki Haley
Asa Hutchinson
Vivek Ramaswamy
Donald J. Trump Winner
City of Apopka
City Council seat 3 (Currently held by Kyle Becher)
- Nadia Anderson 55% of the vote
- Darryl Richardson 45% of the vote
City Council seat 4 (Currently held by Nick Nesta)
- Nick Nesta 61.1% of the vote
- Eric Mock 38.9% of the vote
City of Eatonville
Council Seat 4
- Marlin Daniels 44.4% of the vote
- Tarus Mack 55.6% of the vote
Council Seat 5
- Wanda Randolph 52.2% of the vote
- Crystal Short-Bertrand 47.8% of the vote
Ballot Questions:
Question 1 PASSED
Providing a Defined Qualifying Period and Methods of Qualifying for Office
Amending the Charter to provide a defined qualifying period for candidates for Mayor or Council and providing alternative methods of qualifying to run for office.
Question 2 PASSED
Amending the Method for Confirming Mayoral Appointments to Avoid Deadlock
Amending confirmation of Mayoral appointments providing interim appointees not confirmed by Council within 120 days, may continue to serve no more than 180 days, during which time the Mayor shall propose 3 candidates, one of which may be the interim appointee, for confirmation by Council. If no candidate is confirmed within the 180-day period, the Mayor may appoint a candidate from among the 3 who will fill the position on a permanent basis.
Question 3 PASSED
Amending the Method for Selecting the Vice Mayor
Amending the method for the selection of the Vice Mayor to provide for election by the Town Council.
Question 4 PASSED
Allowing Council to Establish the Effective Date of Any Mayoral or Council Salary Increase
Amending the Charter by allowing the Town Council to establish the effective date of any Mayoral or Council salary increases in the ordinance adopting such increases.
Question 5 PASSED
Relocating Section Providing Right to Hearing Before Forfeiture of Office
Relocating from Section 2.08 to Section 2.07 of the Charter, the right to a hearing for elected officials charged with an offense that could result in forfeiture of office.
Question 6 PASSED
Clarifying and Supplementing the Powers and Duties of the Town Clerk
Amending the Charter by clarifying the duties of the Town Clerk and adding certain responsibilities to the position.
Ocoee
City Commissioner District 4
- George Oliver III 51.5% of the vote
- Nate Robertson 48.5% of the vote
Question #1 REJECTED
Amendment of § C-8, City of Ocoee Charter, to Liberally Construe the City’s Powers
Section C-8 of the City of Ocoee’s Charter shall be amended to provide that the City of Ocoee’s powers be liberally construed in favor of the city to effect their intended purposes.
Shall the above-described amendment be adopted?
Question #2 REJECTED
Amendment of § C-8, City of Ocoee Charter, to Provide for the Exchange of Property
Section C-8 of the City of Ocoee’s Charter shall be amended to provide that the City’s enumerated powers shall include the right to acquire or dispose of property, including real property, by exchange.
Shall the above-described amendment be adopted?
Question #3 PASSED
Amendment of § C-11, City of Ocoee Charter, to Establish One (1) Year Residency Requirements
Section C-11 of the City of Ocoee’s Charter shall be amended to provide that candidates for Mayor shall reside in the City of Ocoee for at least one (1) year before qualifying as a candidate and to require candidates for City Commissioner to reside in the district they seek to represent for at least one (1) year before qualifying as a candidate; candidates shall provide such proof of residency as may be prescribed by ordinance.
Shall the above-described amendment be adopted?
Question #4 PASSED
Amendment of § C-11, City of Ocoee Charter, to Provide Consent to a Background Check
Section C-11 of the City of Ocoee’s Charter shall be amended to provide that each candidate for Mayor and City Commissioner shall consent to a background check to verify the candidate’s qualifications to hold office; and no candidate shall be barred from running for office without notice, a hearing, and clear and convincing evidence that the candidate is not qualified to hold office.
Shall the above-described amendment be adopted?
Question #5 PASSED
Amendment of § C-16, City of Ocoee Charter, to Limit Salaries to Part-Time Compensation
Section C-16 of the City of Ocoee’s Charter shall be amended to provide that the salaries of the Mayor, Mayor Pro Tem, and Commissioners shall be commensurate with the part-time nature of the duties of the office.
Shall the above-described amendment be adopted?
Question #6 PASSED
Amendment of § C-17, City of Ocoee Charter, to Provide for Election of Successors
Section C-17 of the City of Ocoee’s Charter shall be amended to provide that the successor to the office of Mayor or City Commissioner shall be elected at the next regular or general city election, if held within twelve (12) months of the vacancy.
Shall the above-described amendment be adopted?
Question #7 PASSED
Amendment of § C-18, City of Ocoee Charter, to Authorize Designation of an Accountant
Section C-18 of the City of Ocoee’s Charter shall be amended to authorize the City Commission to designate an accountant or accounting firm in accordance with the procedures set forth in Florida Statutes §
218.391 annually or for a period not to exceed five (5) years.
Shall the above-described amendment be adopted?
Question #8 PASSED
Amendment of § C-21, City of Ocoee Charter, to Authorize Commencement of City Manager Residency
Section C-21 of the City of Ocoee’s Charter shall be amended to authorize the City Commission to reasonably extend the requirement for the City Manager to reside in the City of Ocoee within one (1) year of beginning employment upon the Commission’s unanimous approval.
Shall the above-described amendment be adopted?
Question #9 PASSED
Amendment of § C-28, City of Ocoee Charter, for Budget Approval of City Clerk’s Salary
Section C-28 of the City of Ocoee’s Charter shall be amended to clarify that the City Manager shall determine the City Clerk’s salary, subject to budget approval by the City Commission.
Shall the above-described amendment be adopted?
Question #10 PASSED
Amendment of § C-45, City of Ocoee Charter, to Define “Regular,” “Special,” and “General City Elections”
Section C-45 of the City of Ocoee’s Charter shall be amended to define “regular elections” as those held at regular intervals for the election of Mayor and City Commissioner, “special elections” as those held to fill a vacancy in the office of Mayor or City Commissioner, for a citizen initiative to approve of an ordinance, or a referendum to repeal an ordinance, and “general elections” as any other municipal election.
Shall the above-described amendment be adopted?
Question #11 PASSED
Amendment of § C-45, City of Ocoee Charter, to Provide for Swearing-In to Office
Section C-45 of the City of Ocoee’s Charter shall be amended to provide that any person elected to the office of Mayor or City Commissioner shall be sworn into office immediately prior to commencement of the next regularly scheduled City Commission meeting held after the Canvassing Board declares the election results.
Shall the above-described amendment be adopted?
Question #12 PASSED
Amendment of § C-49, City of Ocoee Charter, to Set Elections by Resolution or Ordinance
Section C-49 of the City of Ocoee’s Charter shall be amended to authorize the City Commission to set the dates of elections and dates of qualifying periods for candidates by either resolution or ordinance.
Shall the above-described amendment be adopted?
Question #13 PASSED
Amendment of § C-50, City of Ocoee Charter, to Appoint City Clerk to Canvassing Board
Section C-50 of the City of Ocoee’s Charter shall be amended to appoint the City Clerk to the City of Ocoee’s election Canvassing Board in addition to two (2) citizens and two
(2) citizen alternates appointed by the City Commission.
Shall the above-described amendment be adopted?
City of Winter Garden
City Commissioner District 2
- Danny "DJ" Culberson Jr.
- Iliana R. Jones 48% of the vote
- Ron Mueller 41.9% of the vote
This race will go to a runoff between Iliana Jones and Ron Mueller
City Commissioner District 3
- Chloe Johnson 68.1% of the vote
- Karen McNeil 31.9% of the vote
City of Winter Park
Mayor
- Commissioner Sheila DeCiccio 71.4% or 4,450 votes
- Candidate Michael Cameron 28.6% or 1,779 votes
- Candidate Roland Hotard [withdrew]
City Commission Seat 2
- Candidate Jason Johnson 41.9% of the vote
- Candidate Stockton Reeves
- Candidate Craig Russell 33.9% of the vote
This race will go on to a runoff election between Jason Johnson and Craig Russell.
Town of Oakland
- Salvador Ramos 35.5% of the vote
- Shane Taylor 64.5% of the vote
Flagler County
City of Flagler Beach City Commissioner
- Eric Cooley 55.6% of the vote
- Bob Cunningham 44.4% of the vote
After the Presidential Preference Primary, there’s the statewide primary election, which will host other local offices across the state on Aug. 20. Voters will need to adjust or confirm their registration by July 22 in order to vote in that election.
The General Election will take place on Nov. 5 this year, with a voter registration deadline of Oct. 7.
Early voting dates for the primary and general elections have yet to be confirmed.
Both the City of Maitland and the City of Edgewood have charter amendments or questions only for their voters.
City of Maitland
Question 1 PASSED
City of Maitland General Obligation Bonds for a New Public Library and Park Project
Shall the City issue bonds to finance the construction and equipping of a new public library and improving its location at Quinn Strong Park in the principal amount not to exceed $14,000,000, bearing interest not exceeding the legal rate, maturing not later than thirty (30) years from the date of issuance, payable from ad valorem taxes to be levied in the City on all taxable property?
City of Edgewood
Question 1 PASSED
Removal of Unnecessary Transition Schedule Amendment
Shall the Edgewood Charter be amended to delete the now unnecessary transition schedule used to phase in the adjustment to the current staggered three year terms for Council members?
Question 2 PASSED
Mayoral Stipend Amendment
Shall the Edgewood Charter be amended to increase the maximum monthly stipend amount the City Council is authorized to approve for payment to a mayor from the current $1,000 to $3,000?
Question 3 PASSED
Adoption of Emergency Ordinances Amendment
Shall the Edgewood Charter be amended to delete local provisions regarding emergency ordinances and to provide that emergency ordinances may be adopted in the manner set forth in Florida state law?
Question 4 PASSED
Electronic Distribution of City Code Amendment
Shall the Edgewood Charter be amended to provide an option for electronic distribution of the City Code?
Question 5 PASSED
Grammatical Correction Amendment
Shall the Edgewood Charter be amended to make non-substantive corrections in Article 4?
Question 6 PASSED
Timing of Budget Message Amendment
Shall the Edgewood Charter be amended to change the timing of the Mayor’s annual budget message?
Question 7 PASSED
Reserves Savings Cap Amendment
Shall the Edgewood Charter be amended to change terminology related to reserves allowed to be saved by the City to provide for a cap on “uncommitted reserves” rather than the current terminology used for “unrestricted reserves”?
Question 8 PASSED
Procurement Threshold Amendment
Shall the Edgewood Charter be amended to provide that for any procurement between $10,000 and $25,000, the City shall obtain at least three quotes and that for any procurement over $25,000, the City shall utilize a competitive bidding method?
Question 9 PASSED
Resolution of Tie Votes in City Elections Amendment
Shall the Edgewood City Charter be amended to provide that in the event of a tie in a city council election result, the winner shall be determined between the two tied candidates by a coin flip.