Kris Cruzada to seek reelection, but Todd Weaver decides not to run
Two City Commission seats are up for grabs in the March election — one political newcomer has already filed
Oct. 1, 2024
By Beth Kassab
Kris Cruzada will seek a second term in Seat 3 on the City Commission while Todd Weaver has opted out of running again for Seat 4 ahead of the March 11 election.
Warren Lindsey, a well-known criminal defense attorney who has lived in Winter Park for 30 years, has filed to run for the seat left open by Weaver’s decision.
Lindsey is a first-time candidate for office and currently serves on the city’s Planning & Zoning Board.
That experience, he said, led to a desire to get more involved in city government.
“It’s wonderful — you really see democracy in action,” Lindsey said. “People from all walks of life come up to the podium.”
If elected, Lindsey said his priorities will be keeping taxes low (Winter Park has the second lowest millage rate among local cities) while preserving the quality of city services, including the police and fire departments.
He’s also interested in economic development and improving the health of the Winter Park Chain of Lakes.
Lindsey, who graduated from Stetson University and the University of Florida law school, practices at Lindsey, Ferry & Parker and previously practiced with Chandler Muller and Kirk Kirkconnell, who both died from cancer in 2012. The Winter Park group was known for taking on some of the highest profile criminal cases in the state.
Weaver, an engineer who was first elected in 2019, said his professional responsibilities are taking more of his time so he decided against seeking a third term.
Cruzada, an attorney first elected in 2022, said he wants to continue initiatives he started in his first term such as working with his fellow commissioners to shore up the city’s aging infrastructure, including roads and flood prevention measures. He also wants to continue to make the building code more predictable so that landowners have more clarity over how they can develop their property.
“I want to continue on the path of what I set out to do,” said Cruzada, a lifelong resident of the area.
He graduated from the University of Central Florida and earned a law degree from St. Louis University. Today he practices family and personal injury law and works for his family’s property holdings company.
Candidates looking to enter one of the city races must qualify by Jan. 21. They are elected to three-year terms and can serve a maximum of four terms or 12 years on the board.
The March 11 ballot will also include a referendum asking voters whether or not the city should keep in place its ban on gas-powered leaf blowers to help regulate noise and emissions. The current ban, originally passed in 2022, is not yet being enforced after a controversy erupted earlier this year when landscape companies argued the rule imposed too heavy of a financial burden.
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Thank you, Commissioner Weaver, for your dedicated service to our City, and for staying true to your beliefs.
I am excited about Mr. Lindsey’s candidacy, and look forward to hearing more from him as the campaign progresses.
Are there term limits on commissioners? Seems like some are there longer.
Yes, the commissioners serve staggered three-year terms.
Just a reminder. Mr Weaver had residents pay for legal fees for an attorney when he decided to resign and then not resign. Mr Weaver has until January 2025 so don’t count him out.
I think Anonymous was asking how many years a commissioner can serve and the answer is : four three year terms..term out after 12 years. Some choose not to serve that long and some don’t get reelected.
A majority of WP City Commissioners lawyers?
I guess it’s OK if people stepping up to “the podium” are from “all walks of life” but the City Commission is for lawyers only.
Is that correct?
Marty Sullivan is an engineer and Craig Russell is a teacher and coach. The only lawyers currently are Sheila DeCiccio and Kris Cruzada. Todd Weaver, who serves currently, is also an engineer.
So if there were three Winter Park High School teachers on the City Commission instead of three lawyers The Voice wouldn’t bat an eye at that either?
I have no idea what you are even trying to say here. Someone’s professional experience could certainly help inform the way they would govern. So that seems like an important piece of context for voters to know. Seems like a stretch, though, to argue that every lawyer is a robot who thinks and acts the exact same way when the field is incredibly broad and “practicing law” can mean so many different kinds of work. Would you say the same thing about an emergency room doc and a brain surgeon? They both have MDs, but do different kinds of work that require different skills. Also, I love that you think you are insulting me with the Sentinel jabs. The newspaper still does incredible work despite diminishing resources. I am simply trying to do my small part to fill a news gap in Winter Park because I believe so strongly in the value of local news.
I will miss Commissioner Weaver. He brought a scientific view to city issues that is much needed. I wish him the best in his future. Warren Lindsey would be a great addition to the city council. His legal background will be a strength for our city as well as his conflict resolution skills.