Orange election results: Incumbents keep their seats

Mar 10, 2010 — The Orlando Sentinel

Rich McKay

Mar. 10, 2010 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- Elections in six Orange County cities Tuesday returned incumbents to their posts and put two slow-growth candidates into open seats in Winter Park.

Winter Park's two City Commission races were neck and neck throughout the night.

When results were tallied, planning board member Carolyn Cooper, with 51 percent of the vote, had beaten commercial builder David R. Lamm by 155 votes in Seat 3.

In another close race, landscape architect Tom McMacken, with 53 percent of the vote, beat former City Commissioner Peter K. Gottfried by 313 votes in Seat 4. There were no incumbents in either race.

McMacken said Tuesday night: "I think that both my opponent and I ran clean campaigns based on the issues, and we've helped [Winter Park] take a step back from some of the personal attacks that have stained politics in recent years. I am ready and eager to serve all of the people of the city, whether they supported me or not."

In Ocoee, longtime District 3 Commissioner Rusty Johnson handily won over former City Commissioner Scott Anderson, getting 70 percent of the vote to Anderson's 30 percent.

"I want to thank the citizens of District 3 for putting their trust in me again. I cherish the job that they allow me to do for the city," Johnson said.

In Ocoee's District 1, incumbent Gary Hood beat former City Commissioner Danny Howell with 57 percent of the vote to Howell's 43 percent.

Hood said, "I'm thankful for all the voters who took time out of their day to support me. And obviously I'm glad that they trust me to continue to work on their behalf and the behalf of all the citizens of Ocoee for another term."

A final tally of Ocoee's absentee votes is expected to be made Wednesday after the canvassing board meets.

Maitland incumbent Bev Reponen was re-elected to a second term in Seat 3 on the City Council with 68 percent of the vote over challenger Bill Randolph's 32 percent.

Reponen said Tuesday night, "I'm happy. I think it was a hard-fought win. Maitland has 57 miles of streets and roads, and I walked all of them meeting the people in our community."

Two City Council incumbents in Apopka took an early lead over their challengers.

Seat 1 incumbent Billie L. Dean got 62 percent of the vote to beat challenger Barb Zakszewski's 38 percent, and Seat 2 incumbent Marilyn A. Ustler McQueen got 61 percent of the vote to beat out Sammy Ruth's 39 percent.

In Orlando's City Council District 3, incumbent Robert Stuart easily held off a challenge from political newcomer Larry Spade to win a second term.

Stuart, executive director of the Christian Service Center, brought in 75 percent of the vote. Spade, a landscape architect who jumped in the race at the last minute to keep Stuart from running unopposed, did some campaigning but didn't come close.

"Seventy-five percent is a pretty good mandate," said Stuart, who gathered with supporters at the Tap Room at Dubsdread. "It sends a signal that I've been responsive to the needs of the community."

Three cities' voters considered amendments to their city charters.

Winter Park residents lobbied on both sides of the controversial Amendment 10, which would have required a supermajority vote on the commission to change any land-use rules in the city's comprehensive plan. The supermajority required at least a 4-to-1 vote for a change, rather than the current simple majority of 3-to-2.

Amendment 10 failed 53 percent to 47 percent. It was the only proposed amendment of 12 on Winter Park's ballot that failed.

McMacken and fellow winner Cooper supported Amendment 10. Although it lost, McMacken said he was heartened by the vote.

"What it tells me is that although that amendment failed, the voters chose two commissioners who were in favor of a more careful approach to how we develop the city," he said.

Edgewood voters decided on 14 proposed charter amendments, and all of them passed.

Ocoee voters considered eight changes to their charter. All of those were approved as well.

Throughout the day, a steady stream of voters hit the polls.

Earlier in the day, Orange County Supervisor of Elections Bill Cowles made the rounds among the cities and said the heaviest turnouts were in Winter Park.

"So far, we've been seeing a turnout of about 10 percent. We've seen a steady stream of voters and it'll likely pick up later in the day," Cowles said before polls closed.

In Maitland, City Clerk Maria Waldrop said: "It's been very quiet, but people are going to the polls at a regular pace. It's a low turnout compared to a presidential primary, but normal for a city election."

Cowles said turnout in Apopka was a bit lighter, with an average of just 50 voters an hour.

"If Mayor [John] Land had faced a challenger this year, I'm sure we'd see sky-high turnouts," Cowles said. "But each election has its own personalities."

Land, 89, who faced no opposition this time, automatically won an unprecedented 19th term in office. He has served as mayor since he was first elected in 1949, except for a single, three-year-term in the late 1960s.

Mark Schlueb of the Sentinel staff contributed to this report. Rich McKay can be reached at rmckay@orlandosentinel.com or 407-420-5470.

Newstex ID: KRTB-0151-42741918