June 10, 2024 (Orlando) – Residents in the city who are registered to vote started voting early today for the District 5 Run-Off Election.

Early voting, held at the Orange County Supervisor of Elections Office, will run through Sunday, June 16. Early voting hours: Monday – Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and on Sunday, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., according to the elections office. The Run-Off Election Day is next Tuesday, June 18, at polling places throughout the district. Voting hours on election day: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The District 5 seat was left vacant when Commissioner Regina Hill was suspended by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis after she was charged with various charges, including exploitation of an elderly person and mortgage fraud. Hill has plead not guilty to all charges, according to reports.

The two contenders in the District 5 Run-Off Election are Travaris McCurdy and Shaniqua “Shan” Rose, the top vote getters in the first election on May 21. Rose got 24.80 percent of the votes and McCurdy got 23.29 percent in that election, which had about a 10 percent voter turnout, according to the elections office. Whomever wins will begin serving when elected and until the criminal case involving Hill is resolved or the current terms ends, per election officials.

In a recent interview, I asked Rose, who ran against Hill for the seat in 2021, at this point (in the midst of early voting and in light of the Run-Off Election next week) what are two things she wants District 5 residents to know?

Here’s her response: “One, as a Parramore resident, I’ve been a champion for positive change in the community and as the next District 5 commissioner, I will continue to champion the needs of this community. I love this community, I believe in this community and I want what’s best for this district – a place where we can all live, work and play.

Two, I am proud to have received endorsements from Greater Orlando Builders Association and the Orlando Regional Realtor Association, which means I have relationships and connections on Day 1 to address the affordable housing crisis. I have local government experience to serve District 5 and the City of Orlando well and I humbly ask for your vote.”

Rose, a former employee of the City of Orlando, currently works as the Executive Director of the Town of Eatonville’s Community Redevelopment Agency and founder/operator of the nonprofit organization Change For The Community (started in 2019). She said she’s lived in the Parramore community for six years.

McCurdy could not be reached to comment for this article.

District 5 covers a huge chuck of downtown Orlando, including historic neighborhoods west of Interstate 4 like Parramore and Rock Lake as well as neighborhoods in the Raleigh Street/Kirkman Road vicinity. A part of MetroWest is also in the district.

If you live in District 5 and have questions about early voting or Run-Off election day voting, contact the election office at (407) 836-2070 or City Clerk’s office at (407) 246-2251. Reminder: The location for early voting is the elections office: 119 W. Kaley Street, Orlando, FL 32806.

-Trish Marshall, Founder and Editor, Orlando Community News