ORLANDO — It’s almost over. Orange County voters narrowed a four-candidate race for mayor to two on Tuesday, sending Clerk of Courts Tiffany Moore Russell and businessman Chris Messina into a November runoff to decide who will lead one of Florida’s largest county governments.
Moore Russell finished first with 53,009 votes, or about 32%, according to unofficial results.
Messina received 45,882 votes, or about 28%.
Former U.S. Rep. Stephanie Murphy finished close behind with 43,555 votes, about 26%, while County Commissioner Mayra Uribe received 24,396 votes, roughly 15%.
Because no candidate received more than 50%, Moore Russell and Messina advance to the Nov. 3 general election runoff.
So, while Tuesday’s vote did not choose Orange County’s next mayor, it did change the equation.
A four-person campaign now becomes a direct competition between two candidates seeking control of an office with major influence over development, transportation, housing, public safety and county spending.
Moore Russell currently serves as Orange County clerk of courts and has a long record in county politics.
Messina entered the race from the private sector and positioned himself as an alternative to the county’s political establishment.
Their ideological differences are also likely to become more visible. Moore Russell is a Democrat and Messina is a Republican. This fact may become of importance as the race for the mayor’s office deepens– even though the race itself is officially nonpartisan.
Times being what they are, the expression of political will among voters of all affiliation is likely to reflect to some extent the issues facing the state and federal governments.
The Advocate Angle
The primary campaign asked:
Who are these four candidates?
The runoff should ask:
What would Orange County look like under each of the final two?
Over the next 11 weeks, The Orlando Advocate will compare Moore Russell and Messina on five measurable issues:
Housing affordability.
Growth and development.
Transportation.
Taxes and county spending.
Public safety.
We will ask and preserve each candidate’s answers. The ending of the race will be the beginning of post-election accountability.
Every voter should be watching to see if campaign promises survive Election Day.
- Kevin Seraaj
- Kevin Seraaj
- Kevin Seraaj
- Kevin Seraaj
