Democrat Mary Downey and Republican Donald Shroyer will compete head-to-head in the November general election for the Osceola County Commission District 4 seat.
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In city races, incumbent Angela Eady in Kissimmee District 2 will return to the dais. But incumbent Janette Martinez faces Tiffany Jeffers in District 4, while a recount may be needed to determine who contends with Kirk Zilke for the St. Cloud District 5 seat.
In a county that has grown nearly 85% since 2010, according to census data, the issues of infrastructure development and responsible expansion were an important factor in all four races.
Osceola Board of County Commissioners, District 4
Downey bested two fellow Democrats in the county commission race, while Shroyer defeated a rival Republican.
Both candidates said tackling road congestion and the lack of county infrastructure are their top issues.
Downey, 44, won the Democratic primary with 63.06% of the vote. She is the founder and CEO of Hope Partnership, a nonprofit focused on affordable housing and homelessness, and the Orlando Sentinel’s 2019 Central Floridian of the Year.
Now, she’s already looking ahead to the general election.
“There’s a lot of folks whose votes I have not earned yet, and I’m looking forward to meeting them and listening to them and having those conversations and just keep showing up for this community,” Downey said. “There’s still work to do, and I’m just really excited to just be in this position to keep doing that work. I’m humbled, and I’m honored.”
The county should implement temporary roadway fixes, like alternate routes and added places to walk, while permanent infrastructure catches up with growth, she wrote in a voter guide published by the News Collaborative of Central Florida, which includes the Sentinel.
Downey opposes the property tax amendment that will be on the November ballot, arguing it would cut essential services.
Her win eliminated fellow Democrats Jose Gonzalez and Rafael Lebron from the race.
Shroyer, 56, won the Republican primary with 56.79% of the vote. He previously served on the St. Cloud City Council from 2011 to 2018, including a year as deputy mayor, and is currently a middle school physical education teacher and small landscaping business owner, the Orlando Sentinel previously reported.
Shroyer favors building infrastructure to keep up with growth and phased approvals of new developments without raising impact fees that slow builders, he wrote in the News Collaborative voter guide.
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On the property tax amendment, Shroyer wrote in his voter questionnaire that he supports relief for homeowners who “continue paying the government every year, just to keep property they already purchased.”
He could not be reached for additional comment.
Shroyer’s victory eliminated Republican Nelly Hernandez from the race.
Kissimmee City Commission, District 2
Incumbent Eady, 61, was reelected to the Kissimmee City Commission District 2 seat with 52.26% of the vote, beating her sole opponent Wanda Román.
Eady, who has served on the city commission for eight years in separate terms, also has past involvement with the Toho Water Authority, as well as advocacy groups NAACP, Caribbean and Floridian Association, and Florida Rising.
Eady’s top priorities for her next term include ensuring affordable housing, higher paying jobs, and public safety, she wrote in the News Collaborative voter guide.
She is still undecided on the state constitutional amendment to slash property taxes.
Kissimmee City Commission, District 4
Incumbent Martinez, 43, was the leader with 37.54%, and will face Tiffany Jeffers, the second place finisher in the four-candidate field with 28.56%. Martinez has served on the commission since 2022, with past involvement in the Osceola Chamber of Commerce.
Martinez would prioritize public safety and emergency response, stable affordable housing, and infrastructure growth, she wrote in a voter guide published by the News Collaborative of Central Florida, which includes the Orlando Sentinel. She didn’t share her opinion on the state property tax amendment, writing, “I am not going to tell residents how to vote on a constitutional amendment.”
The results eliminated Rubin Anderson and Maria Virginia Garcia from the race.
St. Cloud City Council, District 5
Zilke, 57, led the St. Cloud City Council District 5 seat with 40.5% of the vote, but just three votes separated Jim Moore and Alex Rodriguez, making a recount likely to determine the runoff.
Zilke previously served as deputy chief of the city’s police department.
His top priorities include managing growth and infrastructure, reducing traffic congestion, and long-term budget reform, he wrote in the News Collaborative voter guide.
Zilke opposes the state amendment to slash property taxes, arguing that it would imperil funding for public services.
Correction: An earlier version of this article misstated the results for Kissimmee District 4 and St. Cloud District 5. Both races are headed to runoffs.
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