We Oppose County Tax Increases
These are unnecessary. What is needed now is for the County to run more efficiently. Sales tax increases for example, are regressive – they hurt most, those who can afford it least. Many families here are hurting from the inflationary cost increases caused by prior federal government mismanagement; it is tone deaf to add to this burden.
Sales tax increases are promoted by politicians as necessary to improving local transportation, including mass transit. However Orange County’s mass transit system, the Lynx, is only 20% utilized at best. There are much better free market-oriented solutions. Partnering with ride-sharing services is one such example which could provide better transit at a lower cost. Seminole County has just announced such an initiative, following on the lines of what I have been calling for the past three years. We need to “right-size”, not maximize, our spending.
We Support Freedom and Oppose Government Mandates
Dictates such as forced masking, mandatory medical vaccinations/procedures and business, church, school & playground closures are destructive. They also force people to report to the government, instead of the government to the people. This is both backwards and wrong! Mandates and government overreach have shattered supply chains. They are a root cause of the shortages we see across our stores.
It is especially important that Orange County publicly disavow any future mandates. Under our administration we will do so immediately. Another health emergency is inevitable. So we must proactively plan a freedom-loving, open information response. We must follow the commonsense guidance of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. He has declared Florida off-limits for future mandates. We need to facilitate the free and uncensored flow of medical information and early treatment while allowing Orange County residents to make their own best decisions.
We Must Adequately Fund Public Safety
to Reduce Crime
The violent crime increase in Orange County over the past four years has been well-documented. However the reasons for it have not been well-addressed. “Defunding the Police” is a recipe for disaster! Instead we need to Fully Fund the Police. Anti-crime experts recommend a staffing level of 1 sheriff’s deputy or police officer per every 1,800 citizens. With Orange County’s growth, we are currently at roughly 1 officer per every 4,000 citizens. This is less than half of what our staffing should be.
In addition, Orange County must look at rehiring those first responders- police, fire fighters, and EMS- who were forced out by past county mandates. These draconian policies robbed the county of countless years of experience. In order for Orange County to become the “most magical place on Earth” we need to make it more safe, not less.
We Must Preserve the Sanctity of Life
Human life is sacred from conception to natural death. In Orange County we need both to promote this message and to resource mothers and fathers so they aren’t overwhelmed by an unexpected pregnancy. Crisis pregnancy centers such as the Fiona Jackson center in Pine Hills and Winter Garden deserve more recognition and support for their life-saving work.
Each one of my children was unexpected in some way. My beloved son has a genetic anomaly, for example. My youngest daughter was very premature. Yet with the challenges each has brought immeasurable joy. Orange County benefits from all of its children; they are our most precious resource. Our vision is that ultimately Orange County is the “friendliest place on Earth”, where every child is cherished.
We Celebrate Individuals with Special Needs
We envision a world in which people with disabilities are valued, included and given the opportunity to lead independent and fulfilling lives. Unfortunately we aren’t serving our residents with disabilities as well as we should. We need to ensure equitable access to healthcare for people with disabilities.
As our children with disabilities move into the school system, we have to ensure that every student receives the high-quality education they deserve, especially those that have been historically underserved. Our schools need to be adequately funded so they can be resourced with the necessary special education supports. Families should be allowed to personalize the education of their children and I support Florida’s Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities that gives families the option to direct their allocation toward a combination of programs and approved providers. Post-secondary options for students with special needs must be strengthened with continued partnerships with local colleges and universities with a focus on employment. We need to foster a collaborative culture with non-profits and agencies to better serve this community.
Transportation remains a challenge for people with disabilities, making it especially difficult for them to maintain regular employment. We need to engage with private sector ride-sharing services to provide a better solution than what is currently available on Lynx Access; waiting 90 minutes for a ride is unacceptable. Zoning must accommodate the needs of those who want to live independently but be in close proximity to their family of origin, who are often providing the much-needed supports. Current laws in Orange County make it difficult to add “mother-in-law” housing options. This issue and others will be addressed under my administration. Finally, we need to promote creative options for long term housing and employment such as the innovative vision laid out for Hopetown.
We will Protect Our Environment
Orange County is one of the most beautiful places on Earth, largely because of its over 300 lakes with their flora and fauna. These need to be protected, along with the aquifers they feed. Protecting sensitive lands starts with good planning that preserves environmentally sensitive areas- in perpetuity. That principle has not always been followed in Orange County.
While regional authorities have an important role in aquifer protection, lake protection should default to the local level – neighborhood lake management associations. This decentralization places the primary responsibility for the lakes on those most directly impacted by their health. Sound environmental planning also requires that development be prioritized towards “infill” projects with existing utility infrastructure and main road access such as large vacant shopping centers. Orange County also needs more environment education to promote substituting chemical pesticide and fertilizer use with more sustainable approaches. Industrial promotion and diversification initiatives should focus on supporting “green” industries such as solar and clean tech.
We will Support the Arts
Music, theater, dance, and other modes of artistic expression, elevate and unite our community. Orange County is blessed with a rich array of professional and community arts organizations, including our excellent Philharmonic Orchestra, Ballet, Opera, Bach Festival Society and Shakespeare Theater, plus hundreds of community music, dance and art organizations. A small army of “creatives” from our world-famous theme parks fuels this artistic energy.
Our venues are equally impressive: the acoustically sensational Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts (home to the magnificent Steinmetz Hall), Judson’s, Timucua, The Plaza Live, and dozens of intimate spaces across the region. Broadway tours light up downtown Orlando, while Winter Park’s nationally celebrated Sidewalk Art Festival – one of the oldest and most prestigious outdoor art festivals in America – draws hundreds of thousands every spring. Artists of every age and skill level find opportunity here:
• Crealdé School of Art in Winter Park (photography, painting, sculpture, and more)
• Joyful Music & Arts in Orlando (specializing in percussion and programs for individuals with developmental differences)
• Art for the Soul in nearby New Smyrna Beach (ceramics and community classes), and numerous other studios, conservatories, and community centers.
Beyond inspiration, the arts are an economic powerhouse. They sustain more than 10,000 jobs in Central Florida and generate roughly $500 million in annual economic impact. United Arts of Central Florida raises and distributes over $6 million directly to about 125 local arts organizations each year, while Orange County Government and the City of Orlando together contribute more than $12 million in public support.
There are neuroscientific benefits as well. Research demonstrates music learning and performance’s positive effects on brain development. Similar life-long benefits are shown by participating in the arts. Music, Theater & Dance have blessed my own family and I am deeply committed to the arts, particularly those which are cost-effective and broadly community-accessible.
As your Mayor, I will:
• Champion sustainable public and private investment in the arts
• Support initiatives that make performances, exhibitions, and classes affordable and welcoming to all residents
• Partner with United Arts, our cities, and the private sector to keep Orange County a national leader in cultural vitality
Together, we will ensure the arts remain a cornerstone of what makes Orange County an exceptional place to live, work, create and raise a family.
We Will Care for Stray Animals & Abandoned Pets
Every animal deserves a fighting chance, even those who end up on euthanasia lists at Orange County Animal Services (OCAS). As a compassionate community, it should be our goal to ensure we have done all that is humanly possible to save the life, and perhaps even re-home, those animals that have been abused, unloved, or abandoned through no fault of their own. We will do this while reserving the right to euthanize the small minority of animals that attack people without provocation.
Even much smaller counties than ours manage to fund and maintain no-kill shelters where each animal is given the time and opportunity for placement with a family who will love and care for them for the rest of their lives. Orange County could be such a place. We have the resources, the volunteers, and the willing donors to make it happen. We will promote marketing initiatives to stop the often unnecessary euthanasia of these helpless animals.
We Support Strengthening Our Relationship with Puerto Rico
Many in Orange County and Greater Orlando have ties to Puerto Rico. Since Puerto Ricans are American citizens like Floridians born in the state, travel between the “Isle Bella” and the “City Beautiful” is relatively easy. Orlando is 1,100 miles from San Juan, less than 3 hours by air. Orange County has the largest population of Puerto-Ricans outside of Puerto Rico, so opportunities for mutual empowerment abound.
However, commerce has not been fully developed between Orange County & Puerto Rico. Some of the constraints are federal, such as the Jones Act which limits shipping between the mainland US & Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico‘s lack of Statehood is another limitation. We favor removing both of these constraints while respecting the right to self-determination for the Puerto Rican people.
Other barriers are more easily addressed by fostering relationships between leaders. Our administration will focus on developing and expanding these ties. Among these initiatives we will promote “Sister City” programs and a Puerto Rico-focused business incubator. We can measure success by the number of collaborations, their economic strength, and the number of those employed. Additionally, we will deploy a staffed and accessible Spanish-language help line and local aid center to help Puerto Ricans navigate local government. Such as center would also help legal Hispanic immigrants.