2010 Orange County, Florida mayoral election

none January 2025 September 2023 2010 Orange County, Florida mayoral election Florida Flag of Orange County, FL.png presidential no 2006 Orange County, Florida mayoral election 2006 August 24, 2010November 2, 2010 2014 Orange County, Florida mayoral election 2014 First round Runoff x155px Teresa Jacobs c0c0c0 53,07342.30% 164,48067.66% x155px Bill Segal c0c0c0 28,76522.92% 78,61132.34% x155px Linda Stewart c0c0c0 24,09119.20% Eliminated File:3x4.svg Matthew Falconer c0c0c0 18,80214.98% Eliminated Mayor Rich Crotty Nonpartisan Teresa Jacobs Nonpartisan The 2010 Orange County, Florida, mayoral election took place on November 2, 2010. Incumbent Republican mayor Richard Crotty was unable to seek re-election due to term limits, and four candidates ran to replace him. A nonpartisan primary election was held on August 24, 2010, but because no candidate won a majority of the vote, former county commissioner Teresa Jacobs, a Republican, advanced to a runoff election against fellow county commissioner Bill Segal, a Democrat. Following a contentious general election, Jacobs was elected mayor over Segal in a landslide, winning her first term 68–32. Primary election Candidates Teresa Jacobs, former County Commissioner (Republican) Bill Segal, County Commissioner (Democratic) Linda Stewart, County Commissioner (Democratic) Matthew Falconer, businessman (Republican) Dropped out Mildred Fernández, County Commissionerhttp://www.orlandomagazine.com/Orlando-Magazine/June-2010/Mr-Establishment/ Mr. Establishment: Community involvement and business connections give Bill Segal an advantage in the race for Orange County mayor. But the 'insider' label is fodder for his foes. Orlando Magazine Holton Sean June 2010 March 15, 2018 Campaign The race to succeed term-limited mayor Richard Crotty, a Republican, initially included incumbent county commissioners Mildred Fernández, Bill Segal, and Linda Stewart, former county commissioner Teresa Jacobs, and businessman Matthew Falconer. Though officially nonpartisan, Segal and Stewart were Democrats, while Falconer, Fernández, and Jacobs were Republicans.http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/politics/os-mayor-segal-20100804-story.html Segal points to business experience Orlando Sentinel Damron David August 4, 2010 March 15, 2018 Segal started off as the frontrunner, raising vastly more money than his opponents combined, benefiting from independent expenditures from a business-affiliated campaign group,http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/politics/os-mayor-race-outside-group-20100817-story.html Political group poised to pump more money into Segal's hefty war chest Orlando Sentinel Damron David August 17, 2010 March 15, 2018 and winning support from much of the county's political establishment. He emphasized his business experience and campaigned on a plan to create jobs by providing employment incentives to businesses. Segal was criticized by his opponents, however, for his pro-development policies. He also came under scrutiny for attending private, men-only meetings with lobbyists and developers, and for voting for county projects that benefited his business partner financially. Segal, however, compared the meetings to other routine events that he regularly attended, and said that he "never made a dime" on his votes. Though Stewart raised little money,https://www.orlandoweekly.com/orlando/its-a-mad-mad-mad-mad-mayors-race/Content?oid=2255610 It's a mad, mad, mad, mad mayor's race Orlando Weekly Manes Billy August 4, 2010 March 15, 2018 she launched an "aggressive" and "progressive campaign,"http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/politics/os-mayor-stewart-20100805-story.html Stewart touts activism, watchdog role Orlando Sentinel Damron David August 5, 2010 March 15, 2018 focusing on her support for environmental causes, improving public transportation, LGBT rights, and ethics reform. She campaigned on her strong support for SunRail and other transportation projects, which she would've funded through a rental car surcharge and a half-cent sales tax increase, though she called for rolling back a 25-cent toll increase.https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2010/07/19/orange-hopefuls-want-to-roll-back-toll-hike/ Orange hopefuls want to roll back toll hike Orlando Sentinel Damron David Tracy Dan July 19, 2010 March 15, 2018 Stewart was criticized for supporting tax increases and her inability to run the county, with Segal arguing that she didn't have the "savvy," "worldliness," or the "management ability" to lead the county. Falconer, meanwhile, positioned himself as the Tea Party candidate, and campaigned on his support for slashing the size of county government and his opposition to infrastructure projects like SunRail. Fernández campaigned on a fiscally conservative platform, arguing for tax cuts, a reduction in the size of government, and strong ethics reform.https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2010/04/28/county-commissioner-mildred-fernandez-arrested/ County Commissioner Mildred Fernandez arrested Orlando Sentinel Jacobson Susan Damron David April 28, 2010 March 15, 2018 However, on April 27, 2010, following an undercover sting she was arrested on charges of "bribery, grand theft, and accepting illegal campaign contributions." Segal's campaign manager, Eric Foglesong, had spoken with State Attorney Lawson Lamar's office about Fernández, and was listed as a "confidential source" in court records.http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/news_politics/2010/08/segal-campaign-manager-tipped-off-investigators-about-fernandez.html https://web.archive.org/web/20100815082109/http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/news_politics/2010/08/segal-campaign-manager-tipped-off-investigators-about-fernandez.html dead August 15, 2010 Segal campaign manager tipped off investigators about Fernández Orlando Sentinel Damron David August 12, 2010 March 15, 2018 Fernández claimed that "special interests" had conspired to launch a "brutal character assassination" against her, and her lawyer accused Segal of coordinating the arrest. Fernández dropped out of the race and was suspended as county commissioner by then-governor Charlie Crist, and she would later resign on November 15, 2011, as part of a plea deal.http://www.wftv.com/news/local/mildred-fernandez-steps-down-orange-co-commissione/286511460 Mildred Fernandez steps down as Orange Co. Commissioner WFTV November 16, 2011 March 15, 2018 Finally, Jacobs focused on ending the "good ol' boy network" that she said had long run Orange County and scared off businesses looking to relocate to the region. She emphasized her support for ethics reform and said that she would build the Wekiva Parkway by "renegotiat[ing] bond deals, reprioritiz[ing] current road projects, and look[ing] for private partners to complete the project." Though it did not make an endorsement in the race, the Florida Democratic Party campaigned against Jacobs, attacking her for being a "lobbyist" and for "spen[ding] her career working against us for special interests" and linked her to former president George W. Bush and former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin.https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2010/08/21/democrats-try-to-label-teresa-jacobs-a-lobbyist-in-orange-county-mayoral-race/ Democrats try to label Teresa Jacobs a lobbyist in Orange County mayoral race Orlando Sentinel Damron David August 21, 2010 March 15, 2018 Jacobs argued that the Party repeated Segal's "false accusations," and that she had "never been a lobbyist." The Orlando Sentinel endorsed Jacobs, praising her as "[c]reative and courageous, with a budget director's mind and an environmentalist's heart."https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2010/08/01/our-endorsements-orange-county-mayor/ Our Endorsements: Orange County Mayor Orlando Sentinel August 1, 2010 March 15, 2018 The Sentinel criticized Segal for his disregard for unbridled development and lack of transparency, and noted that if he won, Falconer would be a "detriment to the county and the region" and would make Orange County "a bleak place." Though it praised Stewart's positions, the Sentinel argued that "Jacobs would champion them more forcefully," and that Stewart was "more advocate than administrator." Endorsements Teresa Jacobs Newspapers Orlando Sentinel Bill Segal State legislators Gary Siplin, state senator (D-Orlando)http://westorlandonews.com/black-political-establishment-backs-segal/ Black Political Establishment Backs Segal West Orlando News Online July 9, 2010 March 15, 2018 Geraldine Thompson, state representative (D-Orlando) Mayors and other municipal leaders Ken Bradley, Mayor of Winter Park Bill Brooks, Mayor of Belle Isle Buddy Dyer, Mayor of Orlando Samuel Ings, Orlando city commissioner Daisy Lynum, Orlando city commissioner Bruce Mount, Mayor of Eatonville Organizations Central Florida Police Benevolent Associationhttp://westorlandonews.com/segal-snags-endorsement-of-orange-county-deputies/ Segal Snags Endorsement Of Orange County Deputies West Orlando News Online July 8, 2010 March 15, 2018 Orange County Professional Firefightershttp://www.wftv.com/news/questionable-spending-by-firefighters-union/286557153 Questionable Spending By Firefighter's Union WFTV July 16, 2010 March 15, 2018 Linda Stewart Other individuals Doug Head, former chairman of the Orange County Democratic Party Organizations Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge 86 Results 2010 Orange County, Florida, mayoral primary electionOrange County, Florida, August 24th, Primary Election - Official Results - COUNTY MAYOR Orange County Supervisor of Elections August 30, 2010 https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/FL/Orange/20346/32336/en/md.html?cid=0130 July 6, 2025 Teresa Jacobs Nonpartisan candidate 53,073 42.30% Bill Segal Nonpartisan candidate 28,765 22.92% Linda Stewart Nonpartisan candidate 24,091 19.20% Matthew Falconer Nonpartisan candidate 18,802 14.98% write-ins 749 0.60% 125,480 100.00% General election Campaign Despite Bill Segal's frontrunner status and expectations that he would finish first in the primary,http://www.orlandomagazine.com/Orlando-Magazine/August-2010/Sizing-Up-the-Field-in-the-Mayor-rsquos-Race/ Sizing Up the Field in the Mayor's Race: Of frontrunner Bill Segal's three opponents, [Teresa] Jacobs has the best chance of beating him in a head-to-head contest. Orlando Magazine Boslet Mike August 2010 March 15, 2018 he finished a distant second, only narrowly edging out Linda Stewart. As Jacobs and Segal advanced to the general election, the rhetoric between both campaigns became heated. Segal attacked Jacobs on ethics, for not supporting gay rights,https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2010/10/25/orange-county-mayors-race-features-many-scuffles-between-bill-segal-teresa-jacobs/ Orange County mayor's race features many scuffles between Bill Segal, Teresa Jacobs Orlando Sentinel Damron David October 25, 2010 March 15, 2018 and for making it "more difficult for minority-owned businesses to get access to county contracts."http://westorlandonews.com/bill-teresa-and-race-in-orange-county/ Jacobs, Segal and Racial Politics in Orlando West Orlando News Online October 5, 2010 March 15, 2018 Jacobs countered that she supported an effort to expand the county's human rights ordinance, and that Segal "fought and ignored" financial disclosure and conflict-of-interest rules as County Commissioner. On racial issues, Jacobs argued that Segal misrepresented her record and pointed to her work improving quality of life in Tildenville, a small African-American community. And despite Segal's earlier fundraising advantage over Jacobs, as the general election approached, Jacobs took a fundraising lead over Segal, and released polls showing that she maintained a sizable edge over him. Meanwhile, Stewart refused to endorse Segal, a fellow Democrat, over Jacobs, a Republican, criticizing their "stark differences on the environment and growth policies."https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2010/09/24/linda-stewart-says-she-wont-endorse-bill-segal-for-mayor/ Linda Stewart says she won't endorse Bill Segal for mayor Orlando Sentinel September 24, 2010 March 15, 2018 Stewart attacked Segal's environmental record, his pushes to "put urban development into rural settlements," and his "extremely poor judgment in attending lavish 'men-only' cocktail parties funded by lobbyists."http://www.watermarkonline.com/2010/10/14/update-linda-stewart-responses-to-watermark%23039s-endorsement/ UPDATE! Linda Stewart responses to Watermark's endorsement Watermark Online October 14, 2010 March 15, 2018 However, she declined to endorse Jacobs, either, noting that she had "areas of disagreement" with her. Results 2010 Orange County, Florida, mayoral general electionOrange County, Florida, November 2, General Election - COUNTY MAYOR Orange County Supervisor of Elections November 12, 2010 https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/FL/Orange/22801/40181/en/md.html?cid=0255 July 6, 2025 Teresa Jacobs Nonpartisan candidate 164,480 67.66% Bill Segal Nonpartisan candidate 78,611 32.34% 243,091 100.00% References 2 Category:2010 United States county executive elections Category:Mayoral elections in Orange County, Florida Orange County, Florida mayoral