The maps are in: Orange County to finalize district lines

After months of receiving input and feedback from residents, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners is looking to adopt a final redistricting map at its meeting Tuesday, Oct. 14. 

The County Commission formed the 2025 Mid-Decennial Redistricting Advisory Committee consisting of 15 members — two from each district and three appointees by Mayor Jerry Demings — after voters approved Charter Amendment 6, which increased the county’s number of districts from six to eight.

The committee reviewed multiple map options submitted by its members and citizens of Orange County, considered residents’ input, and narrowed the maps down to the ones that kept communities together and best balanced equal population and minority representation. 

The two maps the commission is considering will leave most West Orange communities in District 1. However, despite requests from Winter Garden Mayor John Reese and Ocoee Mayor Rusty Johnson to be districted together, Ocoee will remain in District 2.

District 1 will consist of Oakland, Winter Garden, Windermere, Dr. Phillips, Horizon West, Bay Lake, Bay Hill, Lake Buena Vista, Gotha and Tildenville in both maps.

Ocoee will be districted with Paradise Heights, Lockhart, Apopka, Clarcona, Zellwood and Tangerine in both maps. 

“Fortunately for West Orange, the new District 1 map is the same except for Williamsburg and Hunters Creek moving into a proposed new district and bringing the Woodlands of Windermere and Woodlands Village neighborhoods back into District 1,” said Bobby Olszewski, District 1 representative in the Mid-Decennial Redistricting Advisory Committee. 

Johnson, Rees, Oakland Mayor Shane Taylor and Windermere Mayor Jim O’Brien all said at the West Orange Chamber of Commerce’s State of the County they wish the maps would have grouped their communities together because of mutual interests, shared history and joint efforts. Although that didn’t happen, they said they will continue to work together.

Olszewski said the maps allow for more direct representation. 

“For West Orange, that means more focused attention on local priorities, growth, traffic congestion, infrastructure needs and protecting the unique character of our communities,” he said.

Olszewski said the two recommended maps represent what he believes are the fairest and most legally defensible options that also reflect residents’ input. 

Demings said he does not think either map will affect representation for any district.

But with two new districts being added to the county, more money will be required by the government to run them. 

“The county has invested in staff time, public meetings and GIS mapping tools to make the process transparent and data driven,” Olszewski said. “The main impact on taxpayers is the cost of operating two additional commission offices, which will be reflected in the county’s budget.” 

When the maps are finalized, residents will have the opportunity to elect commissioners for the two new districts during the next General Election, Nov. 3, 2026, so the commissioners’ salaries are not yet known. 

The current commissioners will remain in office until their terms expire, with terms ending in 2028 for odd number districts and 2026 for even number districts.