Orange County, Florida, is home to a vibrant and diverse population, and is led by Mayor Jerry L. Demings. A native of Orlando, Mayor Demings is married to former Congresswoman Val Demings, who made history as Orlando's first female police chief. The county board of commissioners functions as the county's main legislative and policy-making body.
Most county boards also control the county's land use, oversee environmental issues, and have executive powers, meaning that they have the authority to appoint or remove department heads. In Orange County, there are seven county commissioners who are elected for four-year terms. The mayor is elected in general and the other members of the board are elected by district. All citizens of Orange County, including those from Orlando, Apopka, Bay Lake, Belle Isle, Eatonville, Edgewood, Lake Buena Vista, Maitland, Oakland, Ocoee, Windermere, Winter Garden and Winter Park are eligible to vote for the mayor.
The members of the Orange County Board of Commissioners are independently elected from six districts and serve in legislative functions. The Mayor oversees public safety operations for residents and the more than 75 million annual visitors, and budget allocations for the Orange County Public Library System, the Sheriff's Office and other constitutional offices. The mayor of Orange County is responsible for setting policy direction for the county and serves as the executive director and president of the Board of County Commissioners. Dan has been a long-time member of the Rotary Club of Orange, was president of the Old Towne Preservation Association and president of the Orange Chamber of Commerce. Orange County has a long history of strong leadership from its mayors. Mayor Jerry L.
Demings is continuing this tradition by working to ensure that all citizens have access to quality services and resources.
