Literally, there are yard signs all along the streets in Delaney Park (see what I did there).
You have the winter-green, mouth wash themed, yard signs of our incumbent Mayor Dyer.
City Commissioner Phil Diamond’s well, diamond-shaped signs are currently outnumbering Dyer’s but, it’s early and both campaigns are rallying the troops for a big grassroots push in the coming weeks.
We also can’t forget long-time Dyer foe Ken Mulvaney and Activist Mike Cantone.
Buddy Dyer has been able to raise huge amounts of cash and even has a superpac called Moving Orlando Forward. A superpac for a municipal race? Yes, and he can put that money wherever he likes. He can even park it if he decides to run for Governor in 2014. And his donations are not confined to one political party. The Mayor has secured donations from both sides of the aisle. Democrats and Republicans, unions and private companies, local and out of area donors.
He’s also got all of the benefits of being an incumbent. City events double as campaign functions, he can point to All-Star weekend, Sunrail, and DPAC as highlights of his term (even if OC Mayor Teresa Jacobs had to put him in check over the finances). He’s even down to fighting weight, losing what seems like 40lbs doing yoga and other activities.
There is the homeless problem, and brightly colored parking meters to collect donations aren’t the answer. Still, he’s looking pretty strong.
Dyer is a powerful incumbent with a wealth of resources.
City Commissioner Phil Diamond has been in an awkward position since he started running months ago. Running as the fiscally responsible alternative to Buddy Dyer, Diamond has had to distance himself from events celebrating projects where financial risk is involved. He’s done well fundraising and is running a decent grassroots campaign so far.
There is a good chance you've seen one of these. Diamond is winning the ground war early.
What Mike Cantone hasn’t deposited in the campaign account, he’s almost made up for with media coverage. Running as far left as you can without falling over, he’s set up joke websites, called out other city commissioners, and last year he even dressed up as a zombie to protest congressional policy.
Activist Mike Cantone has been a thorn in Mayor Dyer's side.
Ken Mulvaney goes way back with Buddy Dyer. The lone Republican in the race lost to Dyer in 04′ and 08′. He’s a late entry but with his campaign experience, has gotten his operation up and running in a hurry. It’s a non-partisan race but, if you vote the party line, he’s your guy.
Is this the year Mulvaney beats Dyer?
This is going to be a great race, I advised another candidate some time back. That campaign has since ended.
Orlando is a terrific city to campaign in. It’s a diverse community, and a politically savvy one. Economic development and responsible growth will be big issues along with others like public safety and services. The Orlando Sentinel will be holding a debate March 7th at UCF’s Metro Center. If you’re an Orlando voter, you should try to be there.
Getting arrested may be one way to talk to the Mayor Bully. Or not. He was unable to respond to questions from the audience last night. No matter where one sees him you can’t find him in an actual two way conversation. His only supporters are paid and the only handclappers last night. He was able to make snide comments. He is totally clueless and whined that people shouldn’t want a Mayor to drop out of his job. They wouldn’t be behind a governorhsip “that I am not running for.” Did he really think when he endorses the freakin Santoria Florida crap in the State Legislature that the room of people now have to attempt to stop by making sure their speaker got elected he would do what? This person needs an MRI. Maybe the expense of $3 million to tear down the old arena and they are cutting the fresh air at city hall to save a dime. He should get out more. And without his plain clothes police. Although my Mom may get the sweater back that I was too afraid to enter his headquarters to retrieve. Drop illegal charges singling out any group as a frat like Sigma Chi wouldn’t even be prosecuted and Meegan Vermeer was found not guilty and the others need charges dropped. Fire Dyer.
[...] Facing re-election this year, Dyer thanked UCF President John Hitt and others and quickly launched into a list of the city’s achievements over the last year. [...]