The Next Chapter: Orange County Mayoral Forum
By J.G. Hayes
Two candidates in the Orange County mayor’s race took part in LWVOC’s Sept. 9 Hot Topics forum that was moderated by the county’s first mayor. Tiffany Moore Russell and Chris Messina shared different viewpoints about the property tax amendment on the Nov. 3 ballot, how to spend Tourism Development Tax dollars and how to resolve transportation problems. Linda Chapin, a former president of the LWVOC and the county’s first mayor from 1990-98, moderated the discussion.
Orange County is the most populous county in Central Florida. Thirteen cities and towns call the county home. Leading a community of this size and complexity is a tremendous responsibility. The Orange County mayor oversees a 2026 budget of $8.3 billion and more than 8,000 employees while serving as chair of the Board of County Commissioners.
Chapin is a living Orange County legend and a longtime League member. She opened the forum by noting that she was president of LWVOC when the nation celebrated its bicentennial in 1976 and this year marks the country’s 250th anniversary.
“I’m still here, and you’re still here,” she said with laughter. In the past 50 years, Chapin said the Orange County chapter has grown into “one of the best and biggest and most influential in all of the country.” LWVOC has more than 800 members.
Chris Messina is a tech entrepreneur and education philanthropist with more than 30 years of business experience. He founded and ran several medical technology businesses. He identifies as a Republican.
Tiffany Moore Russell was elected Orange County Clerk of the Courts in 2014 and served until resigning in 2026 to run for Orange County Mayor. Prior to that, she served as Orange County Commissioner for District 6 from 2006 to 2014. She identifies as a Democrat.
Candidates were first asked about how they plan to vote on the property tax amendment and why. Moore Russell says she plans to vote no and mentioned the impact on quality of services to the community and the fact that it doesn’t protect renters. She also pointed out that if it does pass, she would be mindful of protecting community resources. Messina plans to vote yes, saying that it will make housing more affordable for seniors and new homeowners.
The candidates also were asked about Vision 2050, which lays out the blueprint for Orange County's growth. The emphasis is on preserving established suburban neighborhoods, rural places and natural spaces. This plan was preempted by the state Legislature’s passage of SB 180. What actions should the Board of County Commissioners take?
Messina said that we should be proactive in guiding development. Dilapidated strip malls are ripe for redevelopment, he says.
Moore Russell said that Orange County should continue to work with the state Legislature to defend home rule and make internal changes to look for efficiencies and improve opportunities for improvement.
When asked about protecting environmentally sensitive areas, Messina pointed to environmental corridors and the aquifer, warning about the impact on water supply from data centers. Moore Russell said the county should go to great lengths to protect the rural boundary and improve infill redevelopment and lakes.
When asked about home rule, Moore Russell expressed concern about the Legislature’s trend of preempting local government decisions. She said it was important to allow counties to protect their priorities. Messina said that as mayor, he wouldn’t be “provoking fights” with the Legislature.
For a quick break from weightier topics, Messina said he drinks coffee with milk and no sugar and gets his news from a local TV station that he declined to name. Moore Russell drinks a collagen mixture instead of coffee or tea and gets her news from the local radio stations.
Asked if they had served on the Tourist Development Tax Task Force, would they have voted to fund an expansion of the convention center and what other projects might they have supported, Moore Russell said she’d have liked to see a needs assessment and would not have supported the expansion without an analysis. She prefers cultural and arts projects but no major facilities without support infrastructure plans. Messina would not have supported it either, wanting to focus on smaller conventions, and said he would have supported the Dreamers baseball team if residents were offered an ownership stake.
Tourist Development Tax dollars were next up, and Messina said we should focus on recruiting firefighters and SWAT team competitions and then transportation from hotels and theme parks. Using TDT for affordable housing would go “too far,” he said. Moore Russell expressed a desire to support transportation and workforce housing near I-Drive and other issues that support tourism workers.
When asked about their attitude toward a future moratorium on data centers in Orange County, Moore Russell said that the issue should be studied and the community should be educated before moving forward. The moratorium would allow for time to develop policies. Messina also favored a moratorium and said we should develop tech-based business because they bring high paying jobs, again mentioning space tech and the importance of funding accessible trade school education.
Candidates were asked their thoughts on regional approaches to Central Florida issues and Messina pointed to transportation, calling for reducing the size of buses to vans equipped with technology. Moore pointed to Metro Plan already in place for transportation and also highlighted homelessness as a pervasive issue.
Chapin asked about the possible of a multimodal transportation system, and Messina mentioned that billionaire Elon Musk wanted to build a tunnel linking theme parks. Moore Russell spoke about the need for a centralized hub to address transportation needs.
Another quick question: What do you and your family do for fun? Moore Russell and her family go out to movies and dinners. Messina said they go to theme parks without naming any.
Florida has ordered all Flock cameras removed from state roads. Candidates were asked what they think it means for citizens' privacy versus law enforcement's need to deter crime. Moore Russell stressed the importance of privacy to our residents and said citizens’ rights must take precedence, Messina also favors removing the cameras but also said downtown garages were being used to “stage criminal activity,” indicating he favors using Flock cameras for that purpose. “A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of a simple mind,” he said.
Messina’s top transportation issue is smaller buses, Moore Russell’s is expanding SunRail and rapid buses for connectivity in Orange County.
Tell us something in or about Orange County that makes you proud? Moore Russell pointed to the green spaces and parks and how beautiful it is. Messina said the quality and diversity of skills of people who live here, tapping from his experience as a volunteer football coach.
Asked about Mayor Demings’ Housing for All program, and what more we should do, Messina again spoke about refurbishing dilapidated strip malls and working with pastors on the YIGBY initiative to build housing on church-owned properties. Moore Russell said we should increase the housing trust fund, make changes in building and permitting process to streamline the procedure and make sure there is affordable housing throughout the county.
In another quick question: Messina named George Washington as a public figure he admires, mainly because of his commitment to term limits. Moore Russell named Michelle Obama for her service to the country as the spouse of a public figure.
Given the opportunity to revisit any other issues they may have omitted, Moore Russell spoke about investing in existing industries and helping them grow in place. Messina mentioned investing in our youth, particularly skilled trade workers for space tech.
In closing, Messina focused on industry, space tech and transportation, packaging himself as a candidate with a new vision. Moore Russell highlighted her service as clerk and as county commissioner, pointing out that she has earned the trust of our community by delivering on her campaign promises. At this juncture in time, she said, we cannot afford to hand over the county to someone with no experience.