Winter Park will welcome its next mayor this week as Sheila DeCiccio takes the oath of office on Wednesday, April 10; however, voters return to the polls next week to decide who will fill her former position.
DeCiccio held City Commission Seat 2 before resigning as a condition of her mayoral candidacy. Of the three candidates vying to take her place, one had a clear majority in last month’s election, but not the over 50% majority required to declare victory. The top two vote-getters will square off in the hopes of gaining the votes previously cast for the third candidate. The final vote count is as follows:
- Craig Russell: 2,758 votes – 42%
- Jason Johnson: 2,218 votes – 34%
- Stockton Reeves: 1,589 votes – 24%
Johnson is a commercial trial lawyer and prioritizes reinforcing the city’s infrastructure and preserving city charm. He supports the need to improve gateway corridors, incentivizing businesses to create an aesthetically pleasing environment, and supports smart development strategies for growth. He is in favor of parking solutions that are “more in line with the needs of our residents and what the actual requirements are for certain developments,” and believes there is room for multifamily development in areas other than the heart of the city. His campaign website can be viewed here.
Russell, a Winter Park High School teacher and coach, is also focusing on infrastructure, but sees Winter Park’s history as more of a benefit to its economic future. He supports moderate growth and new projects, but wants to invest in improving what the city already has. “You’re not going to get anything new until you take care of what you already have,” he said. Russell has also said he wants to bring diverse leadership and new perspective to City Commission, and to set an example of service for the next generation. His campaign website is available here.
A recording of the February 7 candidate forum at Winter Park Chamber of Commerce, featuring Russell and Johnson, can be viewed here.
The runoff election is schedule for Tuesday, April 16, and the polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Click here to find your polling place. The winner will be sworn in on April 24.
