Lake County Commissioner Sean Parks is seeking his fifth term against GOP primary challenger Humberto Liriano, with both candidates saying responsible growth is the most important issue.
Read more Endorsements: In ‘people’s court,’ expect dignity and respect
Lake commissioners are elected countywide, but must reside in one of five districts in a system to ensure diverse geographic representation. Parks and Liriano are running for the District 2 seat, which serves the cities of Minneola, Montverde and parts of Clermont in south Lake County.
Parks, the owner of a small consulting business in Clermont, has served as the District 2 representative on the Lake County Board of County Commissioners since 2010, when he ousted former incumbent Elaine Renick in the Republican primary and won the seat against a write-in candidate in the general election.
Parks ran unopposed in 2014, defeated fellow Republican Tad Schnaufer in 2018 with 72% of the vote, and won again in 2022 against write-in candidate Tommie Powers.
In his role as a county commissioner, Parks has pushed for long-term road funding — along with impact fees and developer commitments — to help curb the county’s traffic woes and highlighted land conservation as one of his biggest priorities.
Parks has said he supports protection of rural areas, strengthening planning rules and having growth pay for roads, water and other required services.
Pointing to his advocacy for a $50 million land acquisition bond referendum, which passed with over 80% of voter support in 2024, Parks said he has put in the work toward promoting joint planning agreements and maintaining a rural boundary.
“One of the things, if I’m re-elected, that I’ll be doing is advocating for hybrid, form-based codes that will address a lot of the problems with how development is approved and how it’s actually built out,” he said.
Parks highlighted a lack of affordable housing within the county as a major focus of his campaign, adding he is a proponent of smaller communities that are more affordable for prospective homeowners.
“One thing that I’ve been promoting is pocket neighborhoods and pocket communities, which are urban infill with smaller homes,” he said, “It does add some supply into the market with homes that could be in the range of $200,000 to $300,000.”
Read more Legoland Florida preps Coastersaurus to roar again
According to the Lake County Supervisor of Elections, Parks has received $133,155 in monetary contributions during his campaign.
Parks’ primary challenger for the District 2 seat is Humberto Liriano, CEO and Medical Director of Horizon West Pediatric Center in Winter Garden.
Liriano said he was focused on supporting responsible growth by ensuring infrastructure keeps up with the pace of development. Advocating for a stronger local voice, Liriano has also said he will work with legislators to make sure Lake County has the tools to effectively manage growth decisions.
A physician, Liriano identified healthcare access, mental health advocacy, and support for public safety and emergency services as a few of his top priorities.
“I will work with hospitals, healthcare providers, community organizations and transportation partners to improve access to medical care, expand preventive health programs and ensure seniors can age safely and independently within our community,” Liriano said.
Responding to a questionnaire, Liriano said he should be elected for his unique combination of healthcare leadership, business experience, and community service.
“We need leadership that can balance responsible growth with protecting our quality of life,” he said. “I will focus on ensuring that infrastructure keeps pace with development, supporting public safety, preserving our natural resources, and improving access to healthcare and services for our growing senior population.”
According to the Lake County Supervisor of Elections, Liriano has received $6,648 in monetary contributions during his campaign.
There is no Democrat in the race, so the winner of the Republican primary between Parks and Liriano will face write-in challengers Leighton Powers and Jose Elias-Torres in November. Because of the write-in candidates, only Republicans can vote in the August 18 primary.
Read more Five vie for open Osceola commission seat, with growth key issue
Contact me at [email protected] and (407)-754-4980