Warren Lindsey walks into Commission Seat 4 without opposition
Incumbent Kris Cruzada draws opponent Justin Vermuth for Commission Seat 3 as qualifying ended Tuesday ahead of the March election
Jan. 21, 2025
By Beth Kassab
First-time candidate and local defense attorney Warren Lindsey was automatically elected to the Winter Park City Commission on Tuesday after no other candidates qualified by the noon deadline.
Lindsey will take Seat 4 in the place of Todd Weaver after a swearing-in ceremony set for late March. Weaver opted not to run again.
He said he looked forward to getting to know more city staff and preparing to start his term.
“The polestar of my service will be to always put the interests of our citizens first and to promote our local businesses,” said Lindsey, a registered Democrat, on Tuesday afternoon.
City elections are technically nonpartisan, but party politics historically bleeds into the campaigns and, in turn, some city issues with local party officials providing funding and campaign help.
Records show Lindsey raised nearly $35,000 for his campaign, including a $20,000 loan from himself. Contributors included prominent Democratic donors such as former Mayor Phil Anderson and Jennifer Anderson and former Commissioner Sarah Sprinkel, also a registered Democrat.
Lindsey currently serves on the city’s Planning & Zoning Commission and played a role in pushing Rollins College to agree to make partial tax payments on an apartment project the liberal arts school proposed as a way to provide a more affordable housing option close to campus for its early career faculty. In August, the City Commission approved the project, including the first-of-its-kind PILOT or payment in lieu of taxes agreement between the city and a tax-exempt nonprofit, after multiple revisions to the apartments’ architecture.
“I thought that project represented a constructive and collaborative effort by the city, Rollins and the surrounding neighbors,” he said. “It resulted in a quality project with less density and more parking than originally proposed.”
Joining Lindsey on the dais for a new term in March will be the winner of a two-way contest for Seat 3 between incumbent Kris Cruzada, an attorney, and newcomer Justin Vermuth, an attorney who works as a lobbyist for the timeshare industry. The election is March 11.
Cruzada, a Republican who was first elected to the commission in 2022, grew up in the area and said he wants to continue to serve the residents for another term to “focus on infrastructure, keep our milage rate low and partner with nonprofit institutions on arts and culture,” among other issues.
“Between 36 months ago to today, I’ve learned a lot,” Cruzada said. “I think the record of the commission with Seven Oaks Park, the redevelopment of Winter Park Village, the redevelopment of the former Bank of the Ozarks property has all laid a good foundation for how we would like to develop moving forward.”
Records show Cruzada has raised $1,700.
He said he doesn’t know Vermuth well, but did appoint him to the Lakes and Waterways Board in 2022.
“I look forward to hearing what he has to say and I hope it’s a collegial race where the residents will have the ability to fully discern and decide who will be best for the city of Winter Park,” Cruzada said.
Vermuth did not return messages seeking comment for this story. Because he just entered the race he has not yet filed a campaign finance report. His LinkedIn profile lists him as the senior vice president for government affairs for the American Resort Development Association, which represents the timeshare industry.
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CORRECTION: This story previously listed the wrong party affiliation for former Commissioner Sarah Sprinkel. She is a registered Democrat.
So funny- I am a life long democrat as was my husband- he was actually president of young democrats back in the day, but as a judge was non partisan- same as commissioners! Sarah sprinkel
Sarah, my apologies for the error. The story is now updated with a correction posted.
The most important question here is will we get absentee ballots so we can vote on the leaf blowing policy?
I like to know how these guys voted in the presidential election. I will never vote for anyone who voted for Trump
Informative, focused, evenhanded, “nothing but the news” article.
Mr Crusada has served us well: thoughtful, responsive, detailed in his reasoning and, above all, considerate. If I am understanding correctly that his challenger is a time-share industry state gov affairs lobbyist, I think the Great Wall of Maitland might be a more suitable playground for those local ambitions. That zip code is 32751. Any uber driver can take you there.
I thought this race was nonpartisan? Why are the party affiliations mentioned here?
In future press interviews with the candidates I hope, Ms. Kassab, that these candidates are pressured to make full disclosures of all properties and corporations in which they are owners, shareholders or officers.
Full disclosure helps prevent corruption and self-dealing in City governance. Winter Park is no exception in needing to guard against the dilution of trust in government.