ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – The results are in for the 2024 runoff elections in Winter Park and Winter Garden, each for a respective city commissioner’s seat.
Craig Russell won over Jason Johnson in Winter Park’s runoff as Illiana R. Jones took a Winter Garden seat from incumbent Ron Mueller.
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Russell beat Johnson for Winter Park City Commission Seat 2 with 50.30% of the tally, marking the slimmest of either win by a measure of just 34 votes, according to the Orange County Supervisor of Elections’ office.
The Winter Garden runoff saw Illiana R. Jones take the City Commission seat for District 2 from Mueller with 52.61% of the vote. This election came down to a mere 57-ballot difference, the results show.
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In Orlando, the field is set for a special election to replace Orlando District 5 City Commissioner Regina Hill, who Gov. Ron DeSantis suspended following her arrest in March regarding accusations that include elderly exploitation.
A total of seven candidates qualified Tuesday:
- Travaris McCurdy, a former Florida representative
- Cameron Hope, a businessman
- Shanique “Shan” Rose, executive director of the community redevelopment association in Eatonville
- Lawanna Gelzer, a community activist
- Ericka Dunlap, former Miss America
- Tiakeysha Ellison, a business and financial coach
- Miles Mulrain Jr., a community activist
Hill has pleaded not guilty.
The winner of the special election will serve as interim city commissioner until Hill’s case is concluded. If Hill is found guilty, they will hold the seat until the current term ends in 2025. If Hill is found not guilty, she could return to the seat to finish her term.
The special election is scheduled for May 21. Early voting will run from May 13 to May 19.
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