ORLANDO, Fla. – Early voting is underway for the special election in Orlando City Council, District 5.
Seven candidates are vying for the seat that was vacated when Commissioner Regina Hill was arrested and suspended from office.
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We asked each candidate the same questions. Below are the answers provided by Tiakeysha Ellison.
NOTE: We did not receive answers from every candidate.
[RELATED: Early voting underway for Orlando City Council District 5 special election. What you need to know]
TRAVARIS MCCURDY
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How long have you lived in District 5?
I have lived in District 5 since 2019. I was born and raised in Carver Shores which is rock’s throw away in neighboring D6.
What is your profession?
Small Business Development Manager.
What made you jump into the race?
I am running for City of Orlando Commission District 5 because I am ready to serve on Day 1 and have the experience and track record to represent the voters of District 5 best. My background in public policy has taught me how to ensure resources are available to the residents who need them and that my door is always open for citizen engagement. I’m also answering the call of voters who asked me to run.
What do you see as District 5′s specific needs and how would you work on them?
I plan to focus on affordable housing, infrastructure, and economic development/sustainability. I also plan to weave youth outreach into all of the priorities and initiatives I support at City Hall, as they are the future.
What else do you want to bring to District 5 and to the city of Orlando?
I will look for opportunities to work with healthcare systems on outreach and education for healthcare concerns related to these two areas. In addition, I would work with the City’s GreenWorks Initiative to identify grants available on the federal level to help clean up the parts in most need in District 5.
I would work with organizations like Second Harvest, 4Roots, and Hebni Nutrition to create collaboration opportunities to increase food security and program access. I would advocate for expanding programs using SNAP for healthier food options the same way I did in Tallahassee and over the past 10-15 years.
To address safety concerns downtown, I would bring a diverse group of leaders affected by safety concerns to the table to ensure decisions related to current policies considered the interests of those affected. I would work closely with law enforcement, business owners, restaurant owners, bar owners, and residents.
To sum it up, I would increase communication and citizen engagement to ensure those who need it – get it.
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