Less than a quarter of registered voters weighed in during the Aug. 24 primary, but they set the stage for some interesting general election battles that could redefine the local political landscape for years to come.
In the biggest surprise, former County Commissioner Teresa Jacobs outpaced her closest opponent, Commissioner Bill Segal, by almost 20 percentage points in the non-partisan race to be Orange County Mayor. The two will now compete to hold Central Florida’s most powerful elected position for the next four years.
With a significantly smaller campaign budget, Jacobs drew 51,938 (42%) votes against the well-funded Segal’s 28,147 (23%). Orange County Commissioner Linda Stewart and businessman Matthew Falconer split the remainder, with Stewart garnering 23,638 (19%) and Falconer receiving 18,465 (15%).
Republican voters chose former State Senate Majority Leader Daniel Webster to compete against freshman incumbent Alan Grayson in U. S. House District 8. With almost equal numbers of registered voters from each party, it’s a seat Republicans want back. A win over outspoken Alan Grayson, who is already airing attack ads against Webster, makes it even more coveted.
In the other hotly contested local congressional race, Republican state representative Sandy Adams will face off against first-term incumbent Suzanne Kosmas for U. S. House District 24.
Voters in heavily gay downtown Orlando neighborhoods are faced with an interesting match for State House District 36. Openly gay commercial real estate developer Greg Reynolds won the Republican nomination. He’ll try and unseat two-term incumbent Democrat Scott Randolph, who is not gay but is a darling of the local LGBT, liberal and green communities.
Another openly gay candidate, Cheryl Grieb, easily won reelection to the Kissimmee City Commission.
Segal, a Democrat, attributed the lopsided Orange County Mayor vote to heavy Republican turnout driven by a contentious gubernatorial primary. Both he and Jacobs, a Republican, will court Stewart’s endorsement and voters. They likely include many in the local LGBT community attracted to Stewart’s outspoken support of full LGBT equality.
Throughout his campaign, Segal has consistently supported expansion of countywide non-discrimination protections, establishment of partner benefits for county employees and a domestic partner registry. He voted against the constitutional ban on same-sex marriage and opposes the blanket ban on adoption by gays.
In a Watermark interview, Jacobs was more equivocal. She supports civil unions, partner benefits and a registry “in theory,” is undecided about further non-discrimination protections, voted for constitutional same-sex marriage restrictions and endorses the adoption ban.
“This is likely going to be an issue we just disagree on,” she said.
