If the current election cycle has you feeling discouraged and helpless, you're not alone.
Campaigns for state and national office ignore the enormous challenges we currently face. Instead, political ads generate fear of the opposition by exploiting positions or comments taken wholly out of context. History suggests that most of these candidates will govern the way they run: ignoring fresh ideas, exaggerating division, proudly denouncing compromise and then assigning blame for inactivity.
It doesn't create much hope for the future.
But if you live in Central Florida, there's reason to be optimistic. The race for Orange County Commission District 5 offers a rare opportunity to elect a game-changing candidate. And because it will be decided in the Aug. 14 primary, the outcome will be determined by just a few thousand energized voters.
Gina Duncan is an inspiration whose life qualifies her for public service in extraordinary ways.
Duncan is best known to Watermark readers as the president of the Metropolitan Business Association and co-chair of Come Out With Pride. Prior to her retirement in 2010, she had an impressive 15-year career with Wells Fargo Home Mortgage. As regional manager for that company Duncan oversaw 26 branch offices throughout Central Florida, more than 200 employees and a multimillion dollar budget. She understands leadership, administration, business and finance.
But most extraordinarily, Duncan's rise at Wells Fargo coincided with a transition to a new gender that began in 2006. For the prior 50 years she lived as Greg Pinkston, a standout football player at Merritt Island High School who married and fathered two children.
Although it was by no means easy, Duncan accomplished the change with the respect and devotion of family, friends and co-workers intact. The achievement is awe-inspiring, but not surprising for those who know her. The qualities that made it possible will serve her well in county politics.
Think about it: how intimidating are the commission chambers after you've confronted dozens of bank managersâ┚¬â€Ânot known for their warmthâ┚¬â€Âwith the fact that you, their boss, need to change genders to live truthfully.
And now she's just Gina, a woman so fully realized that her unique background is quickly supplanted by an energetic â┚¬Å”can doâ┚¬Â charisma.
Those qualities were on display last October, when a dangerous thunderstorm forced cancellation of the COWP parade and vendor fair around Lake Eola. Within 48 hours, Duncan had checked park availability and courageously rescheduled the event two weeks before Thanksgiving. On Nov. 13 a massive and joyous COWP affirmed her decision, and her hard work sustaining enthusiasm amongst volunteers, sponsors, vendors and the LGBT community.
At 56, Duncan is at the top of her game. And her incredible life has led her to public service.
â┚¬Å”It might be difficult for people to understand, but I have had so many heartwarming experiences that only this journey could offer,â┚¬Â Duncan shared when asked about her reasons for running. â┚¬Å”I want to give back.â┚¬ÂÂ
Duncan is running against incumbent Ted Edwards, who served the maximum two terms on the commission from 1996 to 2004. He was elected again in 2010 to complete the term of former Commissioner Bill Segal, who left to run for County Mayor.
Edwards is a moderate Republican whose politics fit the commission like a leather glove. Like all but one of his fellow commissioners, he recently voted to approve a county-wide Domestic Partner Registry.
But certain aspects of his service as commissioner are troubling.
At the last-minute, and without prior notice, Edwards introduced an amendment to the DPR ordinance removing the right of those whose partnership is unrecognized to sue for punitive damages and attorneys fees. It passed unanimously. His claimed goal was to protect the county from expensive lawsuits, but he presented no evidence that this has been problematic in any municipality with a DPR.
â┚¬Å”How else do you hold the wrongdoer accountable for violating people's rights?â┚¬Â questioned activist attorney Mary Meeks.
Edwards is general counsel for the Rosen hotel chain, and has an ownership interest in two Rosen hotels. Those connections have caused him to abstain from voting on county business four times more than all of his fellow commissioners combined. His absence from community forums and events in his district has also been noted.
â┚¬Å”He needs to make a decision,â┚¬Â former Commissioner and fellow Republican Lou Treadway told the Orlando Sentinel. â┚¬Å”Does he want to be an attorney and businessman, or does he want to be a commissioner?â┚¬ÂÂ
That won't be an issue for Duncan, who if elected plans to rotate office hours throughout the district.
â┚¬Å”I want to bring county government back to the citizens of District 5,â┚¬Â Duncan said.
That district embraces Thornton Park, Eola Heights, the ViMi District, College Park, Colonialtown, Audubon Park, Baldwin Park, Winter Park and Maitland before traversing east through UCF past Bithlo.
Thousands of Watermark readers live in those neighborhoods. If you're one, contact ElectGinaDuncan.com and get a yard sign. Then be sure and vote for Gina on Tuesday, August 14. And get your friends and neighbors to vote as well. A swing of just a few hundred votes could be pivotal.
Gina Duncan will be one of the most effective commissioners Orange County has ever seen. And the message her election will send about our diverse, inclusive, increasingly cosmopolitan county?
That will be priceless.
