May 20, 2024 (Orlando) – The city will have an interim commissioner for District 5 this week or voters will go back to the polls for a run-off election if none of the seven candidates receive the majority of the votes during Tuesday’s Special Election. The Orlando Commission District 5 seat was left vacant in April when Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis suspended Commissioner Regina Hill after her arrest on charges of exploiting the elderly and fraud.
Now it’s up to the reported 21,267 eligible voters to decide who will represent them in the district, which includes many neighborhoods in the Lake Eola, Holden/Parramore, Callahan, MetroWest and Mercy Drive areas.
The seven candidates are: Ericka Dunlap (a former Miss America), TiaKeysha Ellison (business and financial coach), Lawanna Gelzer (community activist), Cameron Hope (businessman), Travaris McCurdy (a former Florida representative), Miles Mulrain Jr. (community actist) and Shaniqua “Shan” Rose (executive director of the redevelopment association in Eatonville).
The clear winner of the election on Tuesday will begin serving when elected until the criminal case again Hill is resolved or when the current term ends (in 2025), according to election officials.
Hopefully, voters have had a chance to meet with or speak with the candidates, either out in the community in the past or recently at some of the candidate forums and debates.
Voting hours for the District 5 Special Election on Tuesday, Nov. 21 are: 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.
There are five city precincts so voters should check their Sample Ballots to make sure they go to the right precinct to cast their vote. (City precincts are different from county precincts, according to the Orange County Supervisor of Elections Office.)
Here are the five city precinct locations: Rock Lake Community Center, John H. Jackson Community Center, Fire Station 12; Northwest Community Center and Majestic Life Ministries.
March 11, 2024 (Orange County, FL) – There’s a new supervisor of elections in Orange County. With less than three weeks before an election, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis on March 4 announced that he was appointing Glen Gilzean as the new supervisor of elections.
Bill Cowles
Former Supervisor of Elections Bill Cowles retired on January 31, 2024 – about one year before his term was to end, leaving the public office vacant. In an initial public release, Cowles said in part, “it is time to pass the torch and retire to private life and enjoy time with my wife and four grandsons.” He is the longest serving supervisor of elections in the county, according to the elections office.
The appointee’s name may sound familiar because he was most recently selected by Gov. DeSantis as Administrator of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, the former Reedy Creek Improvement District (which was mainly controlled by The Walt Disney Co.) Gilzean had previously worked as the Chief Executive Officer of the Central Florida Urban League.
Glen Gilzean
This appointment comes at a crucial time for the elections office, which is the 5th largest county elections office in the state.
This is a presidential election year and early voting has already started for Florida’s Presidential Preference Primary election and local municipal elections on next Tuesday, March 19. It’s no secret that this is a majority Democratic county and Cowles is a registered Democrat. Reports question why the governor selected Gilzean, a fellow Republican, who has no prior elections office experience.
Also, the country is watching a twice impeached former president, who’s defending himself in four criminal indictments, campaign against the current president seeking a second term. Presidential elections tend to attract the most votes of all elections.
Cowles first announced his retirement in February 2023 and said it would be effective at the end of his term – January 6, 2025. But then there was a shift. Cowles, in his official letter of retirement to Gov. DeSantis, said he was leaving effective, January 31, 2024.
That’s right – a year early, leaving the vacancy in the public office. Cowles said in the letter that he was leaving the elections office “in capable hands of a team with a combined 425+ years of election experience” and that was a “source of great confidence.”
The governor appointed Gilzean.
According to news reports, Gilzean said perhaps the governor sees how he can build bridges. Gilzean now has two jobs: administrator of the oversight district and supervisor of elections, according to reports.
Gilzean said in a local television news interview that his goal was “to bring transparency to our elections cycle.”
He praised Cowles yet said it’s “a general distrust nationwide that has him [Gilzean] focusing on Orange County’s voting process.” The report said one of his goals is to show the process of counting votes on Orange TV and social media.
He has broad shoulders to stand on because of Cowles’ 34 years of service at the elections office. Starting out as chief deputy under then-Supervisor Betty Carter, Cowles was elected as the supervisor in 1996. He has been re-elected in every election since.
According to the elections office: “Cowles has played a pivotal role in advancing election administration technology and cybersecurity. From paper-based voting machines in the 1990s to the implementation of Early Voting after the 2000 election, the switch from absentee to Vote-by-Mail and advanced cyber-technologies in the 2020s, he ensured Orange County stayed at the forefront of innovation, while always keeping a paper trail for Orange County voters – ballots in Orange County have always been paper with optical scan…
“Among his proudest accomplishments are the Voter Registration Helpline created in 1999 in partnership with local TV news outlets and his legacy project, Adopt-A-Precinct.”
Before the new year started, eight people filed to run for the vacant seat. One withdrew his candidacy for the November race.
Sources: Orange County Supervisor of Elections, WESH 2 news online (Nancy Alvarez, anchor, March 4, 2024), Tallahassee Democrat (C.A. Bridges, USA Today Network – Florida, March 5, 2024) and fl.gov (Governor’s Staff, March 4, 2024).
For the past several years, Orlando Community News has established a word or thought for each New Year to focus on throughout the year. For 2024, the word that keeps coming up is actually two words: SUBMIT and RESIST.
A thought-provoking Advent message that our Joy in Christ “is living for Christ, a RESISTANCE to injustice and hardships” led me a part of the focus for the new year. “The birth of Jesus was an act of resistance because although prophets foretold his coming, the circumstances surrounding his birth were meant to prevent his forthcoming, or advent. Yet in the humblest of places and the threat of violence looming, joy filled the birthplace of Jesus.” – Pastor Reginald Johnson, 2023 Advent Devotional: Hope, Peace, Joy, Love. (Published by 11th Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, Christian Education Department)
This reminded me how we as believers have to really fight hard, to PUSH through adversity, to live for Christ; be effective witnesses for him to see the blessings and promises of God. (Think about his blessings that money can’t buy like true Peace and Joy.)
The reminder took me to the scripture, James 4: 7-8, 10: “Submit yourself therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” Verse 10: “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.”
Basically, we won’t be able to RESIST the tactics of the devil in such a way that he will leave us alone without the SUPERNATURAL POWER than comes with having a personal relationship with God and SUBMITTING ourselves – and I mean our whole selves (mind, body and soul) – to God. (Woo, got me singing, “I give myself away! I give myself away so you can use me!” – Gospel Recording Artist and Orlando area Pastor William McDowell)
We must first SUBMIT to the authority of God. Humble ourselves to the Most High God. (Just like Jesus did.)
So it’s not just about fighting hard against the devil’s tricks – saying and doing the opposite of what he presents to us.
We also have to pray all day, everyday – and not just for ourselves: For our family. For people standing in need of prayer. For the saints and God’s church worldwide. For leaders, Etc.
SUBMIT and RESIST.
This goes right along with a recent message I heard in church, about being a true disciple of God. We must deny ourselves daily and follow Christ. We have to make a decision to walk with Jesus. Our journey as modern-day disciples is going to be hard. “You’ve got to be strong enough to endure,” said Rev. Alvin Mitchell, Macedonia M.B. Church, Eatonville (Morning Worship message, Feb. 18)
Denying ourselves, often to things that pleases our flesh, is RESISTING the devil. The devil will have us thinking it’s OK to lift ourselves to a place of authority, thinking that we can do whatever we want to do. No Sir, No Ma’am! The devil is a liar! We must first SUBMIT to the authority of Christ Jesus.
I don’t know about you, but I can see that we are living in some perilous times – even after surviving a pandemic! Lord, have mercy! The Bible tells us this will happen in the last days. (Wars and rumors of wars for example)
Without running down current events in our world, I will just ask you to pay attention to what is happening. One thing I will mention: This is a Presidential Election year and we’ve definitely got to SUBMIT ourselves to God and RESIST the devil.
God is in control of everything and everybody. Amen! He is God Almighty. Don’t let the devil or anyone else fool you! Stay humble and stay on God’s side. RESIST everything the devil sends your way! And the Bible says He, the Lord, SHALL LIFT YOU UP. Amen! Hallelujah!
May God bless and keep you and your family in 2024!
Monday, Dec. 25, 2023 – Christmas! Today we celebrate and reflect on the birth of Jesus. All day, I’ve been singing, using my outside voice, “HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS! I’M SO GLAD IT’S CHRISTMAS. ALL THE TINSEL AND LIGHTS AND THE PRESENTS ARE NICE BUT THE REAL GIFT IS YOU! HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS—-JESUS, I LOVE YOU…
Ok, full disclosure: I don’t know all the words but the song keeps me grounded in what this holiday day, this holy day, is all about. It’s hard to celebrate much else in the Christian faith without celebrating the birth of Christ Jesus. We need more of him in this world!
It’s his day: He was born on purpose for Our Father’s good pleasure which was to save us from our sins. Heard a preacher say in a Christmas Eve church service that just like we like to celebrate our birthdays all month long, we should celebrate Christmas all month long, in fact, every day in the way we live. Praise God for his extravagant love for US, that he would give his only begotten son, Jesus, to save us.
That should bring us all Great Joy, especially in this Advent season. We believe this celebration is about Christ’s first coming and we anticipate Christ the King’s second coming.
At the beginning of the month, my brother, Rev. Reginald B. Johnson, sent me a daily devotional for this Advent season. What I didn’t realize at first, he wrote one of the devotionals and his focus was on joy. Look at God! Joy and Great Joy was Orlando Community News’ focus word for 2023 – at the beginning of the year.
So to close out the year, I am sharing Pastor Johnson’s devotional which appears in the 11th Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church / Christian Education Department’s 2023 Advent Devotional: Hope, Peace, Joy, Love.
God’s Joy
“As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!” Luke 1:44,45(NIV)
A few years ago, social media highlighted images of Black joy that were always visible in our community but not amplified. Scholars describe Black joy as an act of resistance or “an effective tool that has allowed individuals and groups to shift the impact of negative narratives and events in their favor” (Black Joy: Resistance, Resilience and Reclamation, 2021).
The birth of Jesus was an act of resistance because although prophets foretold his coming, the circumstances surrounding his birth were meant to prevent his forthcoming, or advent.
Yet in the humblest of places and the threat of violence looming, joy filled the birthplace of Jesus.
What exactly is this joy? It is joy that comes from God (Nehemiah 8:10, John 15:11, Romans 15:13), despite our circumstances, whether it be health, success, good fortune, or the prospect of possessing what one desires. God is the source and cause of our joy, a sustained gladness.
God’s joy is miraculous, memorable, and everlasting.
The angel, Gabriel, told Mary that she would carry and give birth to the world’s Savior. Fearfully, Mary willingly accepted her role in God’s divine plan. Mary, filled with awe and wonder, visited her relative, Elizabeth. Their visit showed incredible joy, excitement, and confirmation of God’s promise. Elizabeth told Mary, “As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.”
Mary’s visit to Elizabeth reminds us that God’s plans are purposeful and bring blessings beyond our imagination. Mary’s faith and joy would prove to sustain her throughout the life of Jesus where she would encounter uncertainty (Jesus lost in the temple), witness miracles (Jesus changing water into wine), and sorrow (Jesus’ death).
As we prepare for the birth of Jesus this Advent season, let us reflect on the joy that comes from believing in God’s promises.
Let us trust in God’s plans for our lives and take comfort in knowing that our joy in Christ is in living for Christ, a resistance to injustice and hardships.”
Prayer: O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy Name in all the world! We thank you for the incredible joy of believing in your promises. Just as Mary’s visit brought joy to Elizabeth, may our faith in your plan for our lives bring joy and fulfillment. Please help us to trust in your timing and to embrace the joy. We pray in the Name of the Savior who brings the world hope, peace, and eternal joy. Amen.”
Reverend Reginald Johnson 11th Episcopal District Bible Discovery Hour Superintendent
December 7, 2023 (Orlando) – Good God! After Karen Clark Sheard and her sisters (members of The Legendary Clark Sisters) in October graced the CFE Federal Credit Union Arena (UCF arena), Sheard is coming back to the Orlando area tomorrow, Friday, Dec. 8! She is the guest gospel artist for the King of Glory concert, sponsored by Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church and held at Calvary Orlando, 1199 Clay Street, Winter Park, 32789.
The King of Glory concert is a long standing Christmas production in Central Florida, celebrating the birth of Christ Jesus – God’s gift to the world. It’s a 35-year-old live production, with a 100-plus cast of singers and musicians, according to organizers at Macedonia and Pastor Willie C Barnes often says it is a gift to the entire community.
Indeed, having Karen Clark Sheard here as the guest artist is a gift, a treat! The world renowned, anointed “sisters” got nothing but positive feedback on social media about their ministry at the UCF event as a part of the nationwide Reunion Tour: Kirk Franklin, The Clark Sisters, Israel Houghton, David and Tamela Mann and Tye Tribbett.
Sheard, a four-time Grammy Award winning gospel artist, is known for her unique multi-octave powerful voice. She recently released a single with rave reviews, “Send it Down”, on her family’s own record label, Karew Records. (Daughter Kierra Sheard-Kelly and The Clark Sisters are on the company’s artist roster, according to reports.)
Sheard is the wife of Bishop J. Drew Sheard, presiding bishop of the Church of God in Christ organization. They are partners in ministry at Greater Emmanuel Institutional C.O.G.I.C. in Detroit, where he serves as pastor. They have two children music artists Kierra (a.k.a. KiKi) Sheard and J. Drew Sheard II; they also have some singing grandchildren, as well as a new granddaughter born to Kierra and her husband Jordan Kelly.
Have you ever wondered what your purpose was? I mean, have you ever pondered: ‘why am I here’ or ‘what was I created to do while living on this earth?’
Our Word or Nugget to hold on to for the Fourth Quarter is PURPOSE. If you feel your life has purpose, you will have hope for the future and you will do things to fulfill your purpose. That’s my encouragement to you for this last quarter of the year: be purposeful.
For believers in God, scripture teaches that we are his handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (from Ephesians 2:10) To do good works – that’s purpose.
“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God (worship Him with awe-fill reverence, knowing that He is Almighty God), and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.” (Ecclesiastes 12: 13-14) To worship God and keep his commandments – that’s purpose.
In his bestselling book Purpose Driven Life, Pastor Rick Warren said: “Anything you do that brings pleasure to God is an act of worship.” The question is, “Will you make pleasing God the goal of your life. There is nothing God won’t do for the person totally absorbed with this goal.”
We can only know what pleases God (live on purpose) by hearing, reading and studying his Word. We grow in our faith by doing what he said. That gives us a sense of purpose. That gives us a sense of hope. It just feels good to know, I’m pleasing God! Holy Spirit reveals to us the paths to take to live a purposeful life.
I pray you know God and know your purpose in life – how to please God in your own life. And not just know it. I pray we all are sensitive to Holy Spirit in order to Live it out. Do what He said. I declare: We are purposeful and we are fruitful – for God’s glory. Amen.
Orlando – If you live in the City of Orlando and you are registered to vote, you can vote early now through Sunday, Nov. 5. Hours: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Locations: Orange County Supervisor of Elections Office, 119 W. Kaley Street, Orlando, FL 32806. Alafaya Branch Library, 12000 E. Colonial Drive, Orlando, FL 32826 and Valencia College-Lake Nona Campus, 12350 Narcoossee Road, Orlando, FL 32832.
What’s at stake: Office of Mayor. Voters will decide who will represent them as mayor or chief executive, for the next four years. Three people are challenging long-time Mayor Buddy Dyer who said this (his sixth term) will be his last, according to reports. He has been Orlando’s mayor since 2003. His contenders are: Samuel B. Ings, former Orlando city commissioner and Orlando Police Department veteran, personal trainer and business owner Tony Vargas and past Florida Senate candidate Steve Dixon.
Commission District Four seat. Two people are challenging long-time City Commissioner Patty Sheehan for her district four seat, which includes neighborhoods in the heart of downtown Orlando and the Mall at Millenia. She was first elected to the city council in 2000. Her contenders are: business owner Katie Koch and conservative talk show host Randy Ross.
Commission District Six seat. One person is challenging City Commissioner Bakari F. Burns for his district six seat, which includes neighborhoods in the southwest portion of the city (International Drive, MetroWest, Washington Shores and Carver Shores, along with Richmond Heights, for example). Burns is seeking his second term. His contender is: businessman and community activist Rufus Hawkins.
The mayor’s seat is voted on “at large,” meaning, every registered voter who lives in the city limits can vote for mayor. There are six city commission seats which are elected to legislate issues from respective districts. If you don’t know what district you reside in, contact the City Clerk’s office at (407) 246-2251.
It’s election time if you live in the City of Orlando or in parts of Orange and Osceola counties.
In the city, voters will decide if they want to keep long-time Mayor Buddy Dyer or select a new mayor and to keep commissioners for districts 4 and 6 or get new ones. Early voting starts Oct. 28 and election day is Tuesday, Nov. 7. The deadline to register: this Tuesday, Oct. 10.
Mayor Dyer, along with Commissioner Patty Sheehan and Commissioner Bakari Burns all have contenders. Commissioner Tony Ortiz was re-elected without opposition, according to reports.
A Special Primary Election for Florida House of Representative District 35 will also be held on Nov. 7, with the same early voting start date and registration deadline date.
If you live the district, which covers most of Osceola County and a portion of Orange County (east), you should have received a sample ballot from the elections office with the names of people who want to represent YOU in the House of Representatives. Your ballot will be based on the political party for which you are registered. The seat belonged to Rep. Fred Hawkins, Republican, who resigned to become the president of the South Florida State College, according to reports.
If you need to know if you qualify to vote in either one of these elections or both, contact the Orange County Supervisor of Elections Office: (407) 836-2070 or http://www.ocfelections.gov
IF you have questions about the City of Orlando election, contact the City Clerk: (407) 246-2251 or cityclerk@orlando.gov
Remember: the deadline to register to vote is this Tuesday, Oct. 10.
Orlando – With most public schools in Central Florida opening up for students next week (Aug. 10), parents can still take advantage of back to school benefits and save money during Florida’s sales tax holiday which ends this weekend.
Here’s a list of upcoming events and details of the sales tax holiday:
Winter Garden: Back to School Bash. Saturday, Aug. 5, from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Hosted by the City of Winter Garden. Winter Garden families can get free food and entertainment, right along with backpacks and other school supplies. While supplies last. Location: Zanders Park & Bouler Pool, 362 11th Street.
Eatonville: Back to School Community Resource Fair. Saturday, Aug. 5, from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Sponsored by the church, the resource fair will have giveaways – food, school supplies such as backpacks and computers. While supplies last. Location: 412 E. Kennedy Blvd. (Lias Fellowship Hall)
Lake Nona area: Back to School Bash. Saturday, Aug. 5, from 1 -3 p.m. School supplies, free hair cuts and music. Child must be present. First come, first served. Location: LIV Realty Inc., 10783 Narcoossee Road, Suite 113.
West Orlando/Pine Hills: Back 2 School Bash. Friday, Aug. 4, starting at 11 a.m. Registration on Eventbrite required and the event is for 4th and 5th graders only, according to organizers. Pre-filled backpacks, snacks and other gifts. Organizer: Daily Bread Distribution Center. Location: 2532 Silver Star Road.
East Orlando: 3rd Annual Back to School Festival. Saturday, Aug. 5, from 12 – 3 p.m. Day in park with games, food and a backpack giveaway. Sponsored by: The Outpouring Orlando. Location: Blanchard Park, 2451 N. Dean Road.
North Orlando/Rosemont: Annual Backpack Giveaway. Saturday, Aug. 5, from 11 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Voices Community Outreach. Registration required. Location: Charity & Love, 4300 Clarcona Ocoee Road, Suite 101.
*These, of course, are not all events being held before school starts! This is just a list from various searches online (Google). Please reach out to individual organizations if you have any questions or concerns. All of the events listed are free. Registration maybe required. Supplies are available while they last.
Florida’s 2023-2024 Back to School Sales Tax Holiday runs through Sunday, Aug. 6. Parents: You can make certain purchases for your child or children and those items would be exempt from taxes. (Example: clothes, shoes, computers and school supplies.) A second tax exempt period will begin Monday, Jan. 1, 2024 and run for about two weeks through Sunday, Jan. 14. Contact the Department of Revenue for details. Click on Consumers tab at: https://floridarevenue.com/backtoschool/Pages/default.aspx
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things that which were seen were not made of things which do appear.” – Hebrews 11: 1-3 (KJV, Bible)
“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for. By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.” – Hebrews 11: 1-3 (NIV, Bible)
Our Word or Nugget for Third Quarter is Faith.
Exhortation: With everything going on in the world, (prophecy being fulfilled), it is my hope that everyone reading this puts their hope, their trust in God Almighty NOW and starts a new relationship with Our Heavenly Father – The Creator of All Things. Have Faith in God. He is the world’s only real hope. Also, my hope is also that those of us who have established a relationship with God, continue to trust him with all things, exercising and growing our Faith – share our faith (the hope that lies within us), help “the least of these” as Jesus Christ taught and live by Faith (in obedience to God).
This is foundational, but it’s needed. We’re hearing too often about people, young and old, leaving this earth, suddenly in many cases. We have to search ourselves, seek God and make sure that “we know that we know that we know” we are saved and have God’s promise of eternal life.
I pray Holy Spirit touch our ears to hear and our hearts to change. Amen, be blessed!
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