Mayor of Orange County

Mayor of Orange County
Seal of the mayor of Orange County
Flag of Orange County, Florida
Incumbent
Jerry Demings
since December 4, 2018
TypeMayor
Reports toBoard of County Commissioners
Term length4 years
PrecursorOrange County Chair
Formation1990
First holderLinda Chapin
DeputyVice Mayor

The mayor of Orange County is the county executive and chairman of the Board of County Commissioners of Orange County, Florida. The mayor is independently elected countywide.

Duties and powers

The mayor is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the county government of Orange County, overseeing over 8,000 employees with a budget of over $7.2 billion, as of 2025.[1][2] The mayor and county commission have municipal-equivalent authority over unincorporated areas and census-designated places within Orange County.[3]

History of the mayor's office

On April 14, 1986, the Orange County Commission formed the Orange County Citizens Charter Government Study Committee to advise on whether a home rule charter should be drafted for the county.[4] The Committee presented its finding to the Commission in July,[5] and on September 22, the Commission adopted the charter and submitted it to voters for their approval. Voters approved the charter on November 4, 1986.[6] After the election, however, a voter challenged the legality of the charter's adoption, arguing that it ran afoul of a state law that required a minimum of 45 days between the adoption of a proposed charter by a county commission and its ratification by voters. The circuit court upheld the ratification of the charter, but on appeal, the Fifth District Court of Appeal reversed, holding that the charter had been unlawfully ratified.[7]

Several weeks later, the Florida Legislature adopted legislation that retroactively modified the submission deadline for county charters, effectively nullifying the court's decision.[8] On reconsideration, the court withdrew its ruling,[9] but then ultimately reinstated the original ruling.[10] The county subsequently appealed to the Supreme Court of Florida.

Demings' mayoral seal

As the appeal took place, county voters were presented with amendment to the 1986 charter that proposed the creation of an elected county executive, originally called the "County Chairman,"[11] which they ultimately approved.[12] The Supreme Court ultimately upheld the validity of the 1986 charter,[13] queueing up a 1990 election for the newly created office.[14]

At the first election for County Chairman in 1990, County Commissioner Linda Chapin was elected.[15] She was re-elected in 1994. Chapin was term-limited in 1998, and Mel Martínez was ultimately elected as her successor. Martínez resigned as County Chairman upon his confirmation as United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development in 2001, and Governor Jeb Bush appointed County Property Appraiser Rich Crotty as his successor. Crotty was re-elected in 2002 and 2006. In 2004, voters approved a charter amendment that renamed the position from "Chairman" to Mayor."[16] County Commissioner Teresa Jacobs was elected in 2010 and re-elected unopposed in 2014. In 2018, County Sheriff Jerry Demings was elected, and he was re-elected in 2022.

List of mayors of Orange County, Florida

No. Image Mayor Term start Term end Party
1 Linda Chapin November 21, 1990 November 17, 1998 Democratic
2 Mel Martínez November 17, 1998 January 24, 2001 Republican
3 Rich Crotty January 24, 2001 January 4, 2011 Republican
4 Teresa Jacobs
 January 4, 2011 December 4, 2018 Republican
5 Jerry Demings December 4, 2018 Incumbent Democratic

See also

References

  1. ^ "Jerry L. Demings". Government of Orange County, Florida. October 1, 2024. Retrieved February 12, 2025.
  2. ^ "Orange County FY 2024-25 Proposed Budget" (PDF). Government of Orange County, Florida. October 1, 2024. Retrieved February 12, 2025.
  3. ^ Webb, Ashlyn (July 31, 2024). "Orange County mayor responds to city mayors on rural boundary, voluntary". WFTV. Retrieved February 12, 2025.
  4. ^ Throne, Geri (April 15, 1986). "Panel of 9 to study charter". Orlando Sentinel. Orlando, Florida. p. D1. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  5. ^ Ritchie, Lauren (July 18, 1986). "Commission silent on plans for charter". Orlando Sentinel. Orlando, Florida. p. SO1. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  6. ^ Ritchie, Lauren (November 5, 1986). "Orange will get charter". Orlando Sentinel. Orlando, Florida. p. B1. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  7. ^ Webster v. County of Orange, 531 So.2d 176 176, 178 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 1988) (". . . the special election, held only 43 days subsequent to the Board's receipt of the proposed charter, was contrary to the requirements of section 125.64(1) . . .").
  8. ^ White, David (May 13, 1988). "Orange County wants court to throw out charter ruling". Orlando Sentinel. Orlando, Florida. p. D3. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  9. ^ Blumfield, Michael (June 24, 1988). "Court changes tun, says Orange charter is valid". Orlando Sentinel. Orlando, Florida. p. D1. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  10. ^ Blumfield, Michael (August 19, 1988). "Appeal court scuttles Orange charter again". Orlando Sentinel. Orlando, Florida. p. D1. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  11. ^ Blumfield, Michael (October 31, 2008). "With Orange County charter in limbo, no one is sure what vote will mean". Orlando Sentinel. Orlando, Florida. p. B3. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  12. ^ Blumfield, Michael (November 10, 1988). "Next step for charter: The courts". Orlando Sentinel. Orlando, Florida. p. D6. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  13. ^ County of Orange v. Webster, 546 So.2d 1033 176, 178 (Fla. 1989) (". . . we hold that chapter 88-38, Laws of Florida, is a valid statute which had the effect of ratifying the adoption of the home rule charter for Orange County.").
  14. ^ Blumfield, Michael (June 16, 1989). "Court victory puts charter a step away". Orlando Sentinel. Orlando, Florida. p. B1. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  15. ^ Griffin, Michael (November 7, 1990). "Chapin beats Drage, wins new county chairman job". Orlando Sentinel. Orlando, Florida. p. A1. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  16. ^ McKay, Rich (November 3, 2004). "Orange approves 3 charter measures". Orlando Sentinel. Orlando, Florida. p. B2. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
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