Meet Orange County mayoral candidate Mayra Uribe

BIO

Age: 52

Residence: Orlando

Family: Married to husband, Kevin; two children, Faith and Lincoln

Education: Oak Ridge High School, Valencia College, UCF

Occupation: District 3 Orange County commissioner 

Qualifications: Orange County Commission; eight years working for U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson to help families navigate the federal government and addressing local needs; board chair, MetroPlan Orlando;  chairperson, Metropolitan Planning Organization; Advisory Council Governing Board; appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis to the 16-member steering committee for Florida’s 2055 Transportation Plan

What makes you the best candidate for Orange County mayor? 

I am the best candidate for Orange County Mayor because I combine deep roots in this community with proven results, oriented leadership and a clear commitment to putting residents first. I was born and raised here, I’m raising my family here, and I am committed to building our community – this isn’t a stepping stone for a future run for governor or U.S. Senate. I am ready to serve as Orange County mayor on Day One. I’ve already demonstrated that I can and will make hard decisions in the public interest — whether that’s challenging powerful special interests or changing course when new facts emerge. As mayor, I will bring fiscal responsibility, collaborative problem solving and a focus on core issues like transportation, attainable housing, public safety and infrastructure so Orange County remains safe, affordable and full of opportunity for every family. I am uniquely qualified and ready on day one to make decisions that are in the best interest of the people of Orange County.

What are the key differences between you and your opponents? 

The key differences are my independence from special interests, my record of challenging wasteful spending and my willingness to change my position when new information shows a decision is not in the public’s best interest. 

I opposed increases to Visit Orlando’s funding and questioned whether its ballooning budget was too much money and a waste of public tax dollars, because shouldn’t tourism be doing more to support their own industry? In contrast, Stephanie Murphy accepted a $100,000 donation from Disney – reportedly their largest local donation ever. I will remain independent of special interests, even when that means facing political attacks.

I also reversed my support for the Split Oak toll road when new facts came to light and led the effort to secure independent legal counsel for the County Commission.

My opponents talk about accountability; I have lived it by insisting on zero-based budgeting, pushing for insurance cost reforms and standing up to powerful interests when residents’ needs are at stake.

And above all, my experience sets me apart. Together with my staff, my husband, Kevin, and our children, Faith and Lincoln, I am constantly out in the community. From food banks and Back-to-School rallies, community cleanups, neighborhood events for health care and housing assistance, town halls, and my annual “Connectival” resource fair for high school students and families, I am deeply rooted in Orange County. Stephanie Murphy has no local knowledge and attends no local meetings. Chris Messina ran for mayor four years ago, but we’ve never seen him since. He’s not a leader of people or issues. Tiffany Moore Russell has local experience but no leadership accomplishments.

What are some changes you’d like to see made during your time as Orange County mayor? 

I want to see a fundamental shift toward smarter, more accountable government that delivers tangible improvements in residents’ daily lives. Whether or not the constitutional amendment to reduce property taxes passes in November, I will INSIST that we do more with less. I know where we can cut the budget, and I know where we need to increase funding.

My efficiency measures will include:

• Implementing zero-based budgeting so every county department must justify its spending and eliminate waste. My approach will require every department to justify its spending, identify inefficiencies and eliminate waste rather than simply increasing budgets year after year.

• Adopting the Harris Rosen insurance model to reduce unsustainable insurance costs that now exceed $200 million annually.

• Creating a “New Transit Standard” where it should take no more than 45 minutes to travel from one point in the county to another, supported by better Lynx service, seven-day-a-week Sunrail, improved shelters, STAR Plan Transit Corridors and stronger regional transit partnerships.

• Expanding attainable housing options through partnerships with the private sector, nonprofits and municipalities, and responsibly using tourism-related revenues where possible.

What are the three most pressing issues facing Orange County?

First, transportation and mobility. Congestion, toll costs, and limited transit options are affecting quality of life and economic opportunity. I’ve laid out plans to improve traffic flow, strengthen Lynx, expand SunRail and adopt a countywide transit standard focused on speed, reliability and access.

Second, housing affordability and attainable workforce housing. Tourism and growth have driven up housing costs, and we must use tools like more flexible TDT revenues, public private partnerships and smarter land-use decisions to expand attainable housing options.

Third, fiscal sustainability and government efficiency. Rising insurance costs, rapidly expanding budgets and potential property tax changes threaten our ability to fund core services. My focus on zero-based budgeting, insurance reform and careful evaluation of tax policy is designed to protect public safety, infrastructure and long-term financial stability. With nearly 80 million visitors each year generating approximately $400 million in TDT revenue, I believe it is appropriate that a greater share of those dollars help address the housing, mobility and infrastructure challenges created by our growing tourism economy.

Evaluate outgoing Mayor Jerry Demings’ performance. What did he do well? What would you do differently? 

Mayor Demings presided over a period of growth and helped move forward some important initiatives, but his approach to budgeting and spending has left Orange County with serious long-term challenges. Under his leadership, many budgets were increased by 20% to 40% instead of tackling waste and inefficiencies, and insurance costs have grown to unsustainable levels. I would do things differently by insisting on zero-based budgeting, aggressively pursuing insurance reforms and resisting large new commitments — such as further convention center expansion—until we fully understand our long-term financial outlook and the impact of potential property tax changes. My focus is on disciplined spending, better deals for taxpayers and redirecting more resources to housing, transportation and infrastructure. I will also insist on much greater transparency, accountability and auditing of Visit Orlando. We simply must change the dynamic with tourism, for the benefit of local residents. Under my leadership, we will launch a new era with tourism.

Discuss your knowledge and familiarity with District 1 (Horizon West and other parts of unincorporated West Orange County) and its issues. 

District 1 reflects many of the countywide challenges I’ve been working on: rapid growth, traffic congestion, pressure on rural boundaries, and the need for smarter infrastructure and flood control. I have consistently supported preserving the rural boundary and served as the deciding vote multiple times to prevent urban sprawl, which directly affects West Orange communities. Like other parts of Orange County, Horizon West and surrounding areas need better transportation options, stronger protections for wetlands and flood-prone areas, and more coordinated planning across jurisdictions. To preserve our quality of life, Orange County must hold the line on development – a situation that will be challenging for Stephanie Murphy, who has accepted HUGE campaign donations from developers, including $150,000 from billionaire J. Hyatt Brown, $125,000 from developer Beat Kähli - the Avalon Park developer who wants to build two new cities in East Orange County, $100,000 from billionaire Michael Bloomberg, $250,000 in PAC money from Washington, and of course, $100,000 from Walt Disney Parks & Resorts. As mayor, I will push for a smart growth approach in District 1, including mobility solutions that actually reduce commute times, and zoning that balances density, conservation and quality of life.

Recently, the National Association of Home Builders announced it is pulling its convention out of Orlando. How should Orange County respond to this news? What is key in preventing more conventions from leaving the area?

Preventing more conventions from leaving is going to require a destination that is easy to navigate, affordable for workers, and supported by strong infrastructure and arts and cultural offerings. It also requires a marketing strategy that is effective but not wasteful, with clear performance metrics and a willingness to redirect excess funds to other priorities when appropriate. We should also respond by taking a hard, honest look at how we use our tourism resources, and whether our investments are truly aligned with long-term competitiveness. In part, that means completing and fully evaluating the current convention center expansion before committing to more, demanding greater accountability and efficiency from Visit Orlando, and ensuring that TDT revenues support both tourism and the local needs that tourism creates, including the critical issues of housing and transportation. When the current Orange County Convention Center expansion is completed – an expansion which is already funded and under construction – we should allow the OCCC to operate for several years before considering any additional expansion. From there, any future expansion should be measured against documented needs, including a data-driven audit of capacity issues, transportation issues and other relevant measures.

Discuss your position on SunRail and the extent to which Orange County should be involved. 

I support expanding SunRail to the airport as a key part of a regional mobility strategy, and I support extending SunRail’s operating hours into nights and weekends. Orange County should be an active partner in making SunRail a practical, well-used option for workers, students and visitors by improving frequency, reliability and last-mile connections – that means coordinating with Lynx and other transit providers to create seamless trips and implementing smart solutions like the STAR Plan for congested corridors. The STAR Plan (Sunshine Transportation Advancement Resolution) will establish a countywide framework to secure funding for rapid transit in eight high-volume transportation corridors, including last-mile and walkable development.  But I think our vision should be much larger than SunRail. As a region, we should be driven by innovation and creativity to develop transit options that are so efficient and so appealing, people will actually WANT to use transit – that will be a key factor in getting people off the road. And it’s critical that we think about future families and workers… the next generation doesn’t want to own a car, or be held hostage in gridlock. They want seamless, effective transit options that provide access to jobs and supports long-term growth, while being fiscally responsible and aligned with broader transportation goals. With my deep experience in transportation and transit, infrastructure, this will be a key focus of my administration.

What are your political aspirations, if any, beyond serving Orange County? 

Orange County is my home. I was born and raised here, and this is where my husband, Kevin, and I are raising our children, Faith and Lincoln, and building a life. My focus will be on serving as mayor of Orange County and delivering results that families, small businesses and residents can see and feel in their daily lives. The challenges we face – fundamental issues like transportation, housing, fiscal sustainability, environmental protection, mental health and public safety are serious and they are real. We need a county mayor who will give Orange County their full attention, without worrying about climbing the political ladder. If I am known for anything beyond Orange County, I want it to be for standing up to special interests, insisting on fiscal responsibility, and improving quality of life for families and small businesses — not for chasing the next office.