“Like a phoenix, I will rise again.”
– FORMER COMMISSIONER REGINA HILL
Orlando’s November 4 city election results have reshaped the council map in two key districts. In District 1, Tom Keen defeated longtime incumbent Jim Gray. District 1 includes neighborhoods such as Lake Nona (noted for its medical City and new housing), parts of southeast Orlando around the airport and resort corridor, and more established residential pockets transitioning alongside major development.
District 3, open after longtime Commissioner Robert Stuart announced that he would not be seeking reelection, will head to a runoff between Roger Chapin and Mira Tanna, with voters set to decide the seat on December 9, since neither candidate cleared the 50-percent threshold.
Orlando City Council District 3 lies just north of downtown Orlando and covers a diverse mix of historic neighborhoods, urban villages, and residential hubs. The district includes well-known communities such as College Park, Baldwin Park, Audubon Park, and Rosemont.
In District 5, Shan Rose won with 51.84% (1,225 votes), securing a full seat after serving since last year’s special election as interim commissioner. It was a hard-fought campaign for Rose, which saw some staunch opposition from former commissioner Regina Hill (it got a little intense earlier this week), who was suspended by Governor Ron DeSantis in 2024 amid criminal charges, which are still pending.
Hill, who secured 32.71% (773 votes), broadcast her speech to her followers on Facebook Live when results came in, and to a backdrop of Mary J. Blige, maintained that she would be getting up bright and early the next morning to demand a recount and “check the reciepts,” saying it was “kinda strange how things work with vote by mail,” and that her opponent only, “won by 1%.”
Other Council race results in Central Florida include Bryan Bain for Clermont City Council Seat 2, Doug Keown for Tavares City Council Seat 4, Michael Jaycox for Groveland City Council District 4, Sean Abshire for Lake Helen City Commissioner Zone 3, and a runoff between Roger Eckert and Vernon Burton for Lake Helen Mayor.
