Candidate qualifies for Orange County District 1 commissioner race by petition

Austin Arthur, candidate for Orange County Commissioner District 1, has qualified for the race by petition.

Rather than qualifying by fee — which is 4% of the annual salary for non-partisan positions — Arthur collected nearly 1,800 signatures, surpassing the requisite 1,495.

The annual salary for a Orange County commissioner as of July 1 is $91,158, making the qualifying fee $3,646.32.

“I could not be more impressed by our team for reaching this important milestone or more grateful for the enthusiastic response of the voters of District 1,” Arthur said. “After learning we had the wrong due date and had only 10 days to collect a thousand petitions, most said we couldn’t do it. I wasn’t willing to give up that easy.”

The petitions come after Arthur has secured endorsements from Winter Garden Mayor John Rees, former Oakland Mayor Kathy Stark, Ocoee Mayor Rusty Johnson, Apopka Mayor Bryan Nelson, as well as other municipal commissioners and council members.

“These successes are not about me,” he said. “These successes are evidence that the voters of District 1 are looking for new leadership. They want common sense, infrastructure-first, community-driven leadership. That’s why I’m running. As District 1’s next commissioner. That’s what I plan to do: Work on real issues that matter to everyday people, like roads, jobs and a more affordable Orange County.”

Arthur will face incumbent District 1 County Commissioner Nicole Wilson. Early voting begins Aug. 5. The primary election takes place Aug. 20.