Election Day Updates: Kris Cruzada, Justin Vermuth and the leaf blower referendum

Voters will decide who takes Seat 3 on the City Commission and the fate of a ban on gas-powered leaf blowers

March 11, 2025

By Beth Kassab

Update at 4:45 p.m.

Turnout has continued to pick up throughout the day, now at just under 18% in Winter Park or 3,943 votes cast.

That’s an increase of more than 1,400 votes since 11 a.m. this morning when turnout stood at 11% or 2,479 votes cast, including mail, early and Election Day votes reported in near real time by the Orange County Supervisor of Elections Office. There are 22,533 registered voters in Winter Park.

Polls remain open until 7 p.m.

Republicans have slightly edged out Democrats in turnout in Winter Park, where the GOP also holds a lead in voter registrations.

Next highest is Windermere at 16% turnout and and Belle Isle12% turnou t. Windermere is deciding a single city council seat and Belle Isle is deciding its next mayor.

Maitland, which is deciding a council seat, saw turnout at about 9% so far.

And Ocoee, which has three charter questions on the ballot, sits at just higher than 3%.

Winter Park will determine with Seat 3 incumbent Kris Cruzada gets a second term or if challenger Justin Vermuth gets a turn in City Hall.

Cruzada said it’s been a “positive” morning so far and he’s out waving signs at precincts.

Vermuth posted on Facebook that he and his wife voted early this morning and waved signs with their children.

Around the time the polls opened, Vermuth posted a photo of himself with Commissioner Craig Russell, who won last year’s election by just over 30 votes.

“The last City Commission race came down to just a handful of votes — so please, if you stand with Justin and want to ensure that we keep our taxes low and our spending responsible, support our small local businesses, prioritize hiring SRO officers over code enforcement officers, make sure our first responders have all the resources they need, and enhance our local parks, playgrounds and green spaces, get out and vote,” he wrote.

The City Commission has never had to choose between school resource officers and code enforcement officers. Both are funded. And school resource officers remained in schools even as Winter Park — along with others cities — and Orange County Public Schools negotiated how much each local government will pay for the costs of the officers. City Manager Randy Knight said he hopes to have a resolution to the negotiations soon, though not in time for Wednesday’s City Commission meeting.

Winter Park honored one of the officers assigned to Winter Park High School as its officer of the year in January.

For a Q&A with both candidates click here. For the latest update on who is funding the candidates click here.

Voters will also decide the fate of the city’s gas-powered leaf blower ban, which has prompted campaigning by Sen. Jason Brodeur, R-Sanford.

A “yes” vote will repeal the ordinance and lift the ban on internal combustion, or gas-powered, leaf blowers. A “no” vote will allow for the ban to remain in place. If voters keep the ban it would take effect in July.

The ban was unanimously approved by the commission in January 2022, but has never been enforced.

Other Florida cities like Miami Beach, Naples, Palm Beach, South Miami, Key Biscayne and Pinecrest have similar ordinances to reduce noise from leaf blowers.

Warren Lindsey was elected to Seat 4 without opposition after incumbent Todd Weaver decided not to seek reelection.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates. 

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