Democratic battle lines are drawn in Orlando’s District 3 city council runoff

The runoff election for Orlando’s District 3 city council seat is drawing big money and a who’s who of local Democrats lining up behind either Roger Chapin or Mira Tanna, who were separated by just 14 votes two weeks ago.

The massive interest in the race is part of the battle of the old guard vs. the new guard in the party, as moderates and progressives jockey for position in preparation for longtime Mayor Buddy Dyer leaving office next year.

On one side, Chapin has lined up endorsements from Dyer, retiring commissioner Robert Stuart, Orange County Sheriff John Mina, unions representing police and firefighters, as well as two other candidates for the seat who didn’t make the runoff.

Tanna, meanwhile, has backing from Rep. Anna Eskamani, so far the lone candidate to succeed Dyer as Orlando mayor in 2027, as well as U.S. Rep. Maxwell Frost, state Sen. Carlos Guillermo Smith, State Attorney Monique Worrell and a slew of other elected progressives and organizations.

Chapin has contended his experience on crucial boards like governing the Orlando Utilities Commission and reviewing developments on the Municipal Planning Board will have him ready to work right away.

He said he’s asking voters to “please consider my experience and my ability to hit job running on day 1.”

He said his candidacy is boosted by endorsements from former rivals Chris Durant and Kimberly Kiss, the third- and fourth-place finishers in the Nov. 4 general election.

Early voting in the race is from Dec. 1 to Dec. 7 at the elections office on Kaley Street. Election Day is Tuesday, Dec. 9.

Read the full Orlando Sentinel article here.