Steve Leary, with Buddy Dyer's endorsement, heads to run-off from second place
The Orlando mayor and Democrat lent his political sway to the Republican former Winter Park mayor who is running in a heavily blue Orange County Commission district. But Kelly Semrad, a UCF professor and Democrat, emerged from the primary in first place
Aug. 26, 2024
By Beth Kassab
Steve Leary, the former Winter Park mayor and Republican who outraised his opponents in the District 5 Orange County Commission race by more than 3 to 1 and touted the endorsement of one of the region’s most powerful Democrats in Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, is now heading into the Nov. 5 run-off from a distant second place.
Leary finished the Aug. 20 primary with 32% of the vote, 2,800 votes and 9 percentage points behind Kelly Semrad (41%), a Democrat and UCF professor who centered her campaign on how to protect rural lands from development and calls to spend the lucrative Tourist Development Tax on services and quality-of-life projects for residents vs. expenses backed by the tourism industry.
The gulf between Leary’s fundraising haul — nearly $200,000 — and Semrad’s $60,000 is stark. And political action committees such as Dyer’s Orlando PAC and the Realtor’s spent even more on Leary’s behalf.
A mailer just before the primary from Dyer’s PAC showcased Leary amid a slate of Democrats endorsed by the popular Orlando mayor who was first elected more than 20 years ago. The card also named U.S. Rep. Maxwell Frost, Public defender candidate Melissa Vickers, Tax Collector Scott Randolph, Supervisor of Elections candidate Karen Castor Dentel and School Board candidate Stephanie Vanos.
A separate mass text message to voters from Dyer said the people on his list “lead with integrity and are committed to fighting for Orange County residents’ quality of life.”
Leary, who received campaign contributions from a number of development and tourism interests, was the only candidate on that line-up also touted by the local Republican Party and the only one who did not emerge in first place after last week’s election (except for Castor Dentel after the supervisor’s contest was pushed to November because of a court challenge).
Semrad won 35 of the 50 precincts in the district that runs from downtown Orlando through Winter Park and Maitland to Bithlo and Christmas at the eastern edges of the county’s border. One precinct showed an exact tie.
Of the 14 precincts won by Leary, which were centered in Maitland and Winter Park, he won seven by 10 or fewer votes.
The district has more than 145,000 voters with about 55,000 Democrats, 45,000 Republicans and 45,000 people who are registered without a party affiliation or major party.
Joy Goff-Marcil (who won 16% of the vote), also a Democrat, and Joel Antonio Montilla (who won 12%), also a Republican, were eliminated from the contest to fill the seat left open by Commissioner Emily Bonilla, who has reached term limits.
“We knocked on 17,134 doors,” Semrad, 47, said. “Our goal was the Top 2. We were surprised to finish so far out front as we were out funded on the books and we were way out funded in PAC [Political Action Committee] contributions.”
Samuel Vilchez Santiago, the chairman of Orange County Democratic Executive Committee, said his group sent out texts and mailers alerting voters that Leary is a Republican, not a Democrat. He said the messages were not in response to Dyer’s endorsement, but to educate voters.
“The election last Tuesday showed that money cannot buy people’s votes,” Santiago said, pointing also to the District 1 Commission race, where Nicole Wilson, a Democrat, was far outraised by Republican Austin Arthur. They are also heading into a runoff after primary results showed she led by just two votes.
Leary, 57, whose campaign said he was unavailable to be interviewed for this story, announced Dyer’s endorsement in a June news release.
“I have had the pleasure of collaborating with Steve Leary for over 10 years during his tenure as Winter Park Mayor and Commissioner,” Dyer said in the release. “He is bright, thoughtful, and an effective leader. His experience, vision, and collaborative approach will greatly benefit all residents of District 5. I proudly endorse and fully support him.”
The endorsement also comes at a critical time for Orlando’s growth plans.
On Monday, the Orlando Sentinel reported that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is attempting to annex into Orlando more than 52,000 acres of mostly untouched land in southeast Orange County, where development and environmental regulations are considered more restrictive on developers.
Earlier this year, Orlando annexed some 12,000 acres of unincorporated southeast Orange County designated for a new housing development known as Sunbridge and owned by Tavistock. The real estate and investment company is known for its billionaire founder Joe Lewis and is the same company that developed Lake Nona, owns Isleworth Golf and Country Club in Windermere and other high-profile investments across the globe.
Tavistock and companies affiliated with the church that operate its vast Deseret Ranch land have worked together to advocate for a controversial road through Split Oak Forest. The road would serve as a connector between the new developments and Osceola County.
The annexations have triggered a power struggle between Orlando and Orange County over the future of giant swaths of land and environmentalists have cried foul over what they see as the negative consequences of sprawl.
Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings’ commission this summer added two questions to the November ballot that, if approved by voters, would protect Orange’s rural boundary as well as give the county veto power over such annexations.
Dyer and other local mayors signed a letter to Demings opposing the annexation question, saying it violates “home rule” for cities. Winter Park Mayor Sheila DeCiccio did not sign the letter.
Dyer’s spokeswoman said she would need to speak to him directly about why he endorsed Leary and whether the decision is related to the annexation issue. She did not respond to a follow-up question.
Semrad is one of the most vocal advocates for strengthening the county’s control over annexations and the rural boundary, even initiating the ballot questions last year — though the Legislature intervened and only the County Commission had authority to put the questions on the ballot for approval.
Leary has stated he supports the question about the rural boundary.
But Semrad said the rural boundary question itself doesn’t have any teeth. The second question on the annexation veto power is what would give the county the power to ensure environmental and development regulations are followed.
“Annexing into the city has been a loophole to make quick cash, contribute to sprawl and pay less for environmental devastation,” she said.
Leary’s campaign website touts endorsements from Republicans such as former Congressman John Mica and former Florida House Speaker Dean Cannon as well as Edgewood Mayor and campaign consultant John Dowless. Other Democrats have also lent their support, such as Craig Russell, elected earlier this year as the first Black commissioner in Winter Park in more than 100 years, and Gary and Victoria Siplin, who served in the state Senate and Orange County Commission, respectively.
Semrad boasts endorsements from Frost, Randolph, Bonilla, state Rep. Anna Eskamani and incoming state Sen. Carlos Guillermo Smith among others.
WinterParkVoiceEditor@gmail.com
I know this wasn’t intentional, but the way you named Leary’s endorsement (from Dyer) it appeared or confusingly implied that “Maxwell Frost”, etc. ALSO endorsed Leary and I almost fell out of my chair. No, Dyer ALSO endorsed Leary and then these other candidates. Confusing, but thanks anyway for the report.
Photo was helpful somewhat.
Let’s face the reality-this has nothing to do with political party, but all to do with hyper astronomical wild growth and development vs. keeping Central Florida as it is.
Wildman, the dichotomy you state here, growth vs. conservation, has much to do with political party, unfortunately. A candidate’s party support is good shorthand for their stance on these issues. There is a reason party PACs contribute to certain candidates.
The sad fact is that political parties have taken over elections that used to be nonpartisan, so we have to pay attention to party.
Party does normally mean something. But there are certain central Fla. Democrats who are absolutely all in on paving this state from sea to shining sea, and to my view, that includes Buddy Dyer. He has eagerly helped foment the sprawl in East Orange County and now wishes to expand Orlando city limits to the Osceola County line. It is VERY important to discern what, exactly, a candidate stands for in this region. Certain past Orange Commissioners have hidden behind their Democrat status (thus voters presumed they were environmentally protective) to get elected, then done the bidding of every giant developer who came down the pike demanding land use changes. so, Beware. Kelly Semrad is the true peoples’ candidate, looking out for quality of life and trying intelligently to put protections in place for the rural and wild lands and wildlife we all hold dear as identifying characteristics of Florida and Orange County. Without such measures, there literally will be nothing left. Dyer wants development to continue uninterrupted, that is why he loves Leary, and remember: None of us in WP get to vote for or against Dyer—yet he has transformed rural areas in Orange County virtually overnight. SEMRAD for District 5!
Rebecca, I Agree with you 100 percent!
Excellent point and I need to revise my statement that there are a significant number of democrats and republicans who are against major development and growth. But you are very correct that the political PACS play a big role and that is related to political party. Thank you for the correction. It really is a shame that these powerful groups try to take over the will of the people.
Thank you. I totally agree.
so true.
We can all thank Steve Leary for the bait and switch fiasco that brought us the wildly unpopular (and for good reason) Winter Park Library and Event Center.
Lori Wise, agree. Leary led the charge for the most costly civic project ever -by budget -and then failed to heed numerous warnings from residents and later fellow commissioners, that the project was way over budget and lacked sufficient parking. The current commission is still trying to solve parking woes at great expense. Leary initially was on record opposing spending over 23 million (the bond was for 30 million) yet the project ended up costing over 46 million. And still counting. Not a good entry on his political resume. Nothing against the library but this was a blown budget. His close alliance with development interests should give most county voters reason to support his opponent Kelly Semrad.
Beth, I am not a defender of the library but wish to point out that your facts are wrong. Please post your accounting of the $46 million.
Funny to hear the library be something put on Leary. It’s now used like a DNC headquarters for Eskamani and League of Women Voters. Leary may have had his issues but what Winter Park has in leadership atm has proven that residents do not have a say. March election should be one that is a Win for residents- We need a WIN
Former mayor Leary saying he supports the rural boundary is a loaded statement.
As he did with his Winter Park real estate holdings on Orange Avenue before voting on the Orange Avenue Overlay, he’ll simply redefine what the “rural boundary” means.
State statutes dictate that an elected official must recuse him/herself from voting when their real property constitutes more than 3% of the property in the total overlay area. To stay under the threshold, he included all the streets and ROWs in the calculations. He clearly had a conflict of interest, but managed to redefine it to suit his and his donors’ purposes.
Thankfully the new City Commission saw through the ruse and promptly rescinded the original OAO plan at the next meeting.
The words “integrity” and “Leary” will never appear in the same thought bubble.
Ask any Winter Park long-term resident and super voter. Just ask!
Two words: “new library”.
A $30 million promise escalating to over $42 million with the net gain in new square footage in the new vs old building of—-wait for it—-equivalent to the size of a rec room with pool table above a 2-car garage.
And no one —and I mean no one—likes the new building.
Our city’s largest and most expensive public works project ever. And probably the least transparent as well.
All on Leary’s watch. Honesty took a sabbatical.
Government Integrity? I suggest Mr. Leary drop by the library and check out any Jon Meacham historical account and flip to the index: “vanity projects and the loss of public trust”
Un-reasoned, emotional rhetoric is disqualifying: : “Annexing into the city has been a loophole to make quick cash, contribute to sprawl and pay less for environmental devastation.” The “anti-development” mantra may be appealing to some, but the reality is that developers can only build what city or county elected officials approve in accordance with the codes they determine.
Giving the county control over annexations is likely to result in policy decisions that even Ms. Semrad would object to. The concentration of political power never ends well.
UCF professor Dr. Kelly Semrad may be the most perfectly qualified candidate ever for the County Commission, especially District 5.
The election of Steve Leary would be a grave blow to the conservation of east Orange County for life-impacting issues such as our flood drainage. His out-of-proportion financial support comes from big developers who have no stake in the county other than to build on it as densely as they can and leave us with the tax burden.
I am disappointed in Buddy Dyer. Mr. Mayor, county District 5 has much broader concerns than the expansion of urban Orlando. Stop the sprawl!
I agree!!!
A better title for the article would have been…
“Semrad leads Leary as both are headed for runoff”
The endorsement of Republican Steve Leary by Democrat
Buddy Dyer did manage to confuse some Democrats and
NPAs for a short while. But the story is becoming more
clear. Both are interested in seeing big swaths of south
east Orange County annexed to the City of Orlando
and developed.
We voters have a clear choice in this race:
Kelly Semrad, who will represent residents and work for fiscally responsible growth or
Steve Leary, who will represent developers seeking to launch
big developments in rural areas.
Yes we can all thank Steve Leary for his connections to developers and realtors to make WP have the most homes demolished and giant white boxes put in their place while he was in office. It’s no surprise the realtor PAC has donated to his election.
To say he is now an advocate of keeping Florida’s wild spaces wild is, to say the least, a 180° turn from his practices as mayor to giving out the most demolition permits in one month than the entire year prior to his becoming mayor.
I believe he is greenwashing himself to get a seat on the commission so the rampant destruction by developers of our natural areas can continue. I’d ask him how he feels about the current FLDEP plan to build a hotel, golf courses (which we have around 1300 in Florida currently) and pickleball courts in our state parks.
WP lost a lot of its charming homes during his tenure. I can’t vote for him.
As WP Mayor, Steve Leary was voting on changing the zoning/variances with properties he owned and controlled. They were part of the failed Orange Avenue overlay.
When you recognize this, understand what you’d be getting with him serving as Orange County Commissioner.
Thank you for this informative article Beth!! Without it the public would be clueless!
This may be the most important issue on the November ballot. Thank you Beth for this detailed report. Voting is imperative for all Orange County citizens!
Somebody needs to explain to me how some east Orange County residents in 2024 can suddenly declare themselves the frontiersmen/ladies/persons of the region to keep everyone else out of their backyard? The St. Johns River is the county line, buffered by 60,000 acres of no-build land on our side. Developers can build well-designed, spacious projects that can keep most traffic inside for shopping, schools, medical. What’s the big deal? How is a Winter Park resident going to be negatively impacted?
A man told me the story of being recruited to leave First United Methodist, Orlando to help start-up a new church in the suburbs. The church was on South St. near Bumby Ave. Early 1960’s. About 1.5 miles from downtown Orlando. If that no-growth mentality had prevailed then, none of us would be reading this.
Kelly Semrad is BY FAR the best candidate to be our District 5 County Commissioner. She has the best knowledge, skills, experience, background and frankly the chops for this position. We’ve attend several public meetings with the candidates and hands down, she is most impressive.As much as I like what what mayor Leary did for the city of winter park, he is not even nearly as well qualified for this role. It’s unfortunate he was not “available” for this article nor did he attend the 2 public meetings we attended after confirming he would. Dyer only endorses him because he knows Leary is his best chance to approve sprawl into rural areas. Shameful! Instead he should be promoting more density and going vertical like most cities around the world. Vote Semrad for this important position.
20% of the 145,500 registered voters in District 5 voted on August 20.
This is the problem people: when you allow a strident activist minority to control who gets political power, our community loses.
Pete, The run off coincides with the presidential election. Turn out will be at a record high no matter which party one supports.