An Orange County Commissioner made a major decision on her resignation despite pressure from special interests, and she explained why this is not only the best choice, it is the right choice.
Orange County District 3 Commissioner Mayra Uribe submitted her resign-to-run resignation letter as she prepares to qualify as a candidate for Mayor. The letter was received on on May 27, 2026, with an effective date of December 7, 2026.
“It is my intent to qualify as a candidate for Orange County Mayor,” the current Commissioner for District 3 wrote in the letter. “As County Mayor, we can bring the needed change to our local government in transportation, housing and affordability.”
As the letter states, the resign-to-run resignation letter is pursuant to Section 99.012 of the Florida Statutes, and her effective date of December 7, 2026 is before the start date for the term of Mayor, which is December 8th. Because of the timing, Commissioner Uribe requested a special election be set to fill her seat.
“I respectfully request that the provisions of the Charter are recognized and that a special election will be held,” Orange County Commissioner Mayra Uribe concluded.
Her decision to continue serving until December 7th led many Democrats and political special interests to attack the candidate and pressure her to resign on an earlier effective date. They argued that the December 7th date will result in Republican Governor Ron DeSantis appointing a replacement to serve until 2028. But the pressure did not work.
“I need to continue to serve on the Commission consistent with Florida general law and the Charter for several reasons,” Mayra Uribe told West Orlando News. She explained several reasons:
“First, the County Budget process for this summer is up for final approval in August. I am concerned about an attempt by the current administration to raise taxes again in the form of a stormwater utility fee increase. Now is not the right time. This happened in 2024, when I was the only Commissioner to vote against a tax increase that was placed on the County Agenda for the County Budget, at the last minute.”
“Second, it has been my observation that the last months of a two-term mayor involve many key votes – prompted by special interests — that can burden future Commissions, and tie their hands of use of public tax dollars. The basis of the resign-early-argument injects partisanship into this race; which our Charter leaves out.”
“Much work remains with the Budget to prevent raising taxes in this current climate. And much remains to safeguard with our local tax dollars from being misspent on special interest projects without being properly vetted. I need to remain on the BCC thru December 7, 2026.”
Commissioner Uribe also took on those attempting to pressure her, saying the whole hyperpartisan attack was concocted by special interests.
“The partisan memo from an ‘out-of-town lawyer’ circulated stating I should resign this month versus later this year ignores the governance issues. Moreover, it is premised on the belief that any appointment would be wrong. That is a false choice. Because if I resigned early, an appointment would be made anyway. This memo, the lack of courtesy, and then threats suggest more is at play. Given this, I have concluded that special interests have concocted this. I had my own lawyer review that memo, and the operative terms of Sec. 99.012, resign-to-run law, and Sec. 114.04 for the filling of vacancies. I have been instructed by my attorney that I should serve until December 7, 2026, and I agree.”
RELATED: Orange County Supervisor of Elections ‘Uncertain How to Proceed’
The Orange County Supervisor of Elections office said it was “uncertain how to proceed” on the important election decision after the Commissioner’s resignation letter.
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Orange County Clerk Resigns, Special Election Set
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