Orange County gets a surprise new Commissioner

Late Friday Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed Mike Crabb to the Orange County Commission District 2 seat left vacant since Christine Moore resigned to run for Apopka Mayor.

That means Crabb is an incumbent on a technicality less than three weeks before the Aug. 18 Primary because he is already on the ballot. Crabb is one of five candidates running for District 2.

Crabb, an Ocoee resident, said he was “super-excited” for the appointment and “thankful” to fill the seat at least momentarily to give some representation to District 2 on the Orange County Commission for Moore’s remaining term for the end of the year.

The District 2 seat has been empty since late April when Moore resigned to unsuccessfully run for Apopka Mayor. 

When asked if he thought he suddenly had an advantage now heading into the Primary, Crabb said, “I’m out knocking doors meeting with voters, so nothing’s changed.”

Crabb, who works as a Lieutenant in the motorcycle unit at the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, said he works 40 hours a week and is out campaigning on nights and weekends.

Crabb also owns The Shirt Shop USA, DeSantis’ memo said.

The District 2 seat covers Apopka, Ocoee, Eatonville and part of Pine Hills, College Park, and Orlando.

In the August Primary, Crabb faces former Rep. Kamia Brown, former Orange County Democratic Chair Wes Hodge, Ocoee City Commissioner George Oliver III and lawyer Marsha Summersill.

Crabb said he sought the appointment to the seat after he knew Moore was stepping down and he was nearing retirement after 30 years with the sheriff’s department. When DeSantis did not select him with the qualifying deadline approaching this Summer, Crabb decided to formally run for the seat because he said he was disappointed with the other candidates.

“With my fiscally conservative leadership,” Crabb said, “I thought I would be better for District 2 than the four candidates that ran. So that’s what made me decide to go ahead and file even though I didn’t get appointed.”

It’s his first time running for government office.

Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings, who is recovering from surgery related to his prostate cancer, was not available for comment late Friday.