Winter Park voters chose Craig Russell to fill the city’s open Commission seat in the April 16 runoff election. At the final count, Russell barely edged-out Seat 2 opponent Jason Johnson with 50.3% of the vote. Johnson received 49.7%.
The 0.6% margin of victory is just above the minimum 0.5% required by state law for a recount. Russell, a Winter Park High School teacher and coach, is the first Black candidate elected to a Winter Park Commission seat since the city’s first election in 1886.
Throughout their campaigns, Russell and Johnson voiced differing views on the issue of development. Johnson considered the preservation of Winter Park’s charm a top priority while Russell was more in favor of moderate growth and in promoting the city’s history over its charm. During a Feb. 7 candidate forum at Winter Park Chamber of Commerce, Russell said he was in favor of revisiting the guidelines of the Orange Avenue Overlay and in finding creative solutions for parking. On the subject of acquiring greenspaces, Russell said they are important, but believes the city should focus on improving and maintaining its existing parks. “You’re not going to get anything new until you take care of what you already have,” he said.
Russell also founded the Army of Angels nonprofit in 2019 with his wife, Kate Demory, to help students in need of clothing, laptops, and other resources necessary for their education and wellbeing.
Mayor Sheila DeCiccio was elected to City Commission Seat 2 in 2020 and ran unopposed for reelection in 2023. She resigned as a condition of her candidacy in this year’s mayoral election, which led to the three-way race that ended with Russell receiving 42% of the vote while Johnson received 34%. Stockton Reeves, Executive Director of the Center for Public Safety, Inc., also ran and received 24% of the vote.
Russell will be sworn in before the April 24 City Commission meeting, which will feature the final vote to include the referendum on the city’s gas-powered leaf blower ban on next year’s ballot. Information on city meetings, virtual access, and downloadable recordings of past meetings are available at cityofwinterpark.org/meetings.