“Val, Val, Val”

To chants of Val, Val, Val, former Orlando police chief Val Demings officially launched her campaign for Orange County mayor, before hundreds of supporters and well-wishers at Lake Eola on Thursday.

Perhaps foreshadowing the major issues on which her campaign will rest, Demings stressed the importance of accountability, ethics, inclusiveness, diversity and trusted leadership, if Orange County were ever to become a leader, not only for the state, but for the nation.

“We have an Orange County that’s great, but I believe that Orange County is yet to realize its full potential and I want a government that lives up to its promises,” Demings said, to loud cheers.

“…Businesses can’t prosper, our children can’t learn, our community can’t grow, if our government doesn’t work for us,” she added.

Demings wasted no time in swatting away recent claims by incumbent Mayor Teresa Jacobs that she hadn’t been involved in local government matters.

“That’s a kind of strange statement to make, considering that I spent the last 27 years in government and have handled every different issue, including homelessness, with which every city department has dealt,” she said. “I am running on my proven track record of leadership.”

Demings particularly underscored the kind of leadership style she would bring to the mayor’s office, even as she put big business on notice.

“It doesn’t matter how big your business is, it doesn’t matter what your socio-economic background is,” said Demings. “What matters are the citizens who live here. That’s my style of leadership, you’ve seen it before and I believe we can do better.”

Asked whether Jacobs is ethically challenged to run for a second term, Demings had this to say:

“I will be running on my record and that is, standing up and taking responsibility – being accountable – whether it’s a good day or not so good day,” she said. “I believe that a major part of being mayor is believing in something greater than yourself and that something is community and it’s demonstrated by your actions.”

Demings said, the biggest weakness currently existing in Orange County government is, “being able to make a decision that you know is right with little regard for the political climate.”