Orange County Mayor candidates debate baseball, government raises at Tiger Bay

All four Orange County Mayor candidates squared off over data centers, Amendment 3 and rising government salaries during a debate at Tiger Bay Club of Central Florida.

The debate revealed some subtle policy differences — and brought out some fireworks — between the candidates seeking to replace term-limited Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings. The event was held at the Orlando Regional Realtor Association’s headquarters in front of an audience of elected state and local officials in Central Florida. 

A few tense moments broke out between former U.S. Rep. Stephanie Murphy and Orange County Commissioner Mayra Uribe. Murphy was asked if she would raise impact fees if she was elected. Instead of answering the question, Murphy criticized the Orange County Commissioners for giving themselves a raise. 

In 2023, the Orange County Commission approved a 25% pay raise for itself.

“As somebody who’s running for Orange County Mayor, I’ll commit to not accepting a pay raise,” Murphy said. “My focus will always be on spending taxpayer dollars on things that benefit residents because I’m not running for this office to enrich myself.”

Whoever is elected as County Mayor wins the job that will pay $271,658 a year for the 2027 fiscal year.

Uribe, who was first elected to the Orange County Commission in 2018, defended the County Commission’s pay increases. She argued it put them in line with what other Osceola and Seminole county leaders were making so that regular people who aren’t rich can run for public office.

Uribe attempted to bring up Murphy’s wealth and career in a rebuttal, which led to Murphy raising her voice to drown her out by saying, “That is incorrect! … You are misrepresenting where I have my income.”

Tech entrepreneur Chris Messina, the lone Republican in the mix, was also the only candidate to support Amendment 3 on the November ballot, which would overhaul local property tax funding. 

“How many of you have not had to tighten your budget?” Messina challenged. “We have a lot of waste and fraud in county government.”

Orange County Clerk of Courts Tiffany Moore Russell argued she was against Amendment 3 because property tax revenue helps the government pay for services like roads, trash pickup and parks. 

On the issue of data centers, Murphy said, “If a data center wants to come here and raise our utility rates, pollute our water and not bring any real jobs, the answer is no.”

Moore Russell said she was against putting data centers in county neighborhoods, but acknowledged that society today needs data centers.

“I’ll be supportive if they want to go in separate zoned areas that’s appropriate for them and they’re going to pay their costs,” she said. “They just have to be placed in the right places in our country.”

Messina, who works in tech, said his businesses have used hyperscale data centers but said, “I don’t think they’re right for Florida.”

Uribe was an emphatic no.

“Central Florida, Orange County, is not the place to put this,” Uribe said. “There’s a reason why these massive billionaires are trying to get them everywhere. We cannot become the next victim of this here in Orange County.”

As for the Orlando Dreamers trying to get hotel tax money to build an MLB stadium in Orange County, Messina called it “an unparalleled opportunity.”

“We should be proactive and try to make it happen,” he said.

If the MLB supports Orlando getting a team, “we would need to roll up our sleeves and work with our private sector partners who I know are incredibly enthusiastic,” Murphy said.

Some expressed caution.

“If we’re going to spend TDT (tourist development tax) dollars to attract a sports venue, there must be a return that’s going to continue to grow TDT. … Does this project help grow TDT? Is it going to drive visitors?” Moore Russell said as she considered other factors like if the stadium will create jobs paying a livable wage.

“If not, I won’t be able to support. … It has to make sense for Orange County.”

Uribe agreed that living wages need to be part of the deal that can’t be “one-sided.”

“I will say the Dreamers want it all, so they are dreaming because they want the land, they want the money, they want everything. And it really does have to balance out,” Uribe said.

Early voting starts Monday, leading up to the Aug. 18 Primary. If there is no clear majority winner, the top two vote-getters square off in the November General Election as a runoff.