Qualifying period open for upcoming local elections

Three of the four municipalities in West Orange County are holding elections March 10 to determine who will lead the city or town for the next few years.

Registered voters in Ocoee, Winter Garden and Windermere will go to the polls from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. that day to select who will represent them for the next term. In Oakland, voters will receive a mail-in ballot regarding revisions to the town charter.

OCOEE

Qualifying for the two open seats on the Ocoee City Commission begins at noon Thursday, Jan. 15, and ends at noon Friday, Jan. 23. Ocoee commissioners serve three-year terms.

Rosemary Wilsen has served District 2 since 2009, and Joel Keller has represented District 4 since 2006.

Qualifying packets are available at City Hall, 150 N. Lakeshore Drive. For more details, call the city clerk’s office at (407) 905-3100.

WINTER GARDEN

In Winter Garden, three commission seats will be on the ballot — districts 2, 3 and 4. Bob Buchanan has served the second district since 2007, Bobby Olszewski has represented the third district since 2012, and Colin Sharman has been commissioner for the fourth district since 2006.

The qualifying period begins at noon Tuesday, Jan. 20, and ends at noon Tuesday, Jan. 27. Winter Garden City Commissioners serve three-year terms. The qualifying fee is $87 ($15 filing fee plus 1% of the annual salary of the office sought).

Election packets are available at City Hall, 300 W. Plant St. For more information, call City Clerk Kathy Golden at (407) 656-4111, Ext. 2254. 

WINDERMERE

The town of Windermere’s qualifying period has passed. On the ballot will be three Town Council seats currently held by Jim O’Brien (since 2011), Molly Rose (since 2007) and Mike Pirozzolo (since 2011). 

As of Friday deadline, four Windermere residents had qualified: O’Brien, 315 Butler St.; Pirozzolo, 20 Oakdale St.; Rose, 928 Main St.; and Robert McKinley, 536 Magnolia St.

In Windermere elections, the top vote-getters are sworn into the positions. Residents will vote at Town Hall, 520 Main St.

OAKLAND

None of the town commission seats is up for re-election this year. However, the town of Oakland will hold a mail-ballot election to revise the town charter, and registered voters will answer yes or no to adopt the revised charter. By conducting the election by mail, the town will save about $6,000.

Voters can go to the town’s website to get the current and revised charters, or they can obtain a copy at Town Hall if they call ahead.

The charter was in need of updating for clarification to conform to changes in the law and changes to certain provisions, including elections, town debt limits and a redefining of the police department function.

For more information, call Town Clerk Kimberly Gay at (407) 656-1117, Ext. 2104.