Jason Albu drops out of Orlando City Council District 3 race

Orlando City Commission candidate Jason Albu is suspending his campaign for District 3.

“As much as I care about serving this community, this simply isn’t the right time for me, my family, or my business,” Albu wrote in a Facebook post. “Family comes first, and I know this is the best decision for us.”

Albu was running for the District 3 seat. It’s an open race because five-time Commissioner Robert Stuart is not seeking re-election.

The remaining District 3 candidates are Samuel Chambers, Roger Chapin, Chris Durant, Kimberly Kiss and Mira Tanna.

In dropping out, Albu endorsed Chapin, who has surged in a strong fundraising lead.

“As a husband, father, small business owner, and longtime civic leader, Roger is prepared to serve on day one. I believe he is the right person to represent District 3, and I am proud to offer him my full support and endorsement,” Albu wrote on Facebook.

Albu, who lives in Baldwin Park, is the Co-Chairman of Albu & Associates, a family-owned general contracting and construction management company, according to his campaign website.

District 3 covers the popular College Park and Baldwin Park neighborhoods.

Chapin raised $118,000 in the second quarter compared to Albu’s $37,000, Florida Politics reported in July. The next campaign finance deadline is Oct. 10.

Chapin is a Mears Transportation executive and is the son of former Orange County Mayor Linda Chapin.

Central Florida’s biggest governments are undergoing a major leadership shake-up. Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer is not seeking re-election and Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings is term-limited.

Stuart explained why he is not running for a sixth term when he spoke to Florida Politics in May.

“There are some things that I’d like to do that politics keep me from doing,” Stuart said. “It’s also 19 years. … I’d love to serve forever, but you’ve got a lot of people that want to run — I kind of want to let them.”

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