J.C. Derrick
Key Points
- Tiffany Moore Russell and Chris Messina offered sharply different views on property taxes and the county’s future Monday night during an Orange County mayoral runoff forum in Apopka.
- Messina supports Amendment 3 for property tax relief and proposes redeveloping strip malls and bringing a space academy to Orange County.
- Moore Russell, a former county commissioner and clerk of courts, warned that a proposed property tax amendment could leave the county struggling to fund services.
Tiffany Moore Russell and Chris Messina offered sharply different views on property taxes and the county’s future Monday night during an Orange County mayoral runoff forum in Apopka.
Moore Russell, a former county commissioner and clerk of courts, warned that a proposed property tax amendment could leave the county struggling to fund services. Messina, a businessman, argued that property tax relief and tighter spending would make Orange County more affordable.
The candidates appeared at Victory Church in a forum organized by Apopka Involved Voters in partnership with The Apopka Chief and sponsored by Maynard Nexsen law firm. Hank Dunn moderated the forum, which was livestreamed on The Apopka Chief YouTube channel and Facebook page.
Messina and Moore Russell will face each other in the Nov. 3 general election after advancing from the August primary.
Their clearest disagreement concerned Amendment 3, which would expand homestead property tax exemptions, if voters approve it in November.
“I do plan to vote no,” Moore Russell said. She questioned how the county would replace the lost revenue and said she was concerned about the effects on first responders and smaller municipalities.
“I’m absolutely voting yes,” Messina said. He argued that county government could reduce costs while protecting public safety. Asked how he would respond if fire funding fell short, Messina said a small increase in the fire millage rate could be an option.
Orange County estimates the amendment would reduce its property tax revenue by about $165 million in 2027 and $275 million in 2028. Those are county projections; Moore Russell cited the projected losses in opposing the amendment, while Messina questioned the assumptions underlying the county’s estimates.
Dunn focused much of the forum on how the candidates would manage county operations, control spending and approach their first 100 days.
Moore Russell said her initial focus would be inside county government: appointing a transition team, assessing departments and filling senior vacancies. Messina said he would pursue bringing a proposed space academy to Orange County and convene developers to discuss redeveloping aging strip malls along major corridors.
Their approaches to the county budget shared some ground. Messina proposed a forensic audit and a review of programs to determine whether they should continue receiving money. Moore Russell said she would use a zero-based budgeting approach and seek savings through technology and more efficient operations, regardless of whether Amendment 3 passes.
On housing, Moore Russell emphasized increasing supply and shortening the time needed to obtain county approvals. She said the county should examine how staff interpret development rules, which she said can lead to costly delays. Messina proposed turning underused shopping centers into developments combining housing, stores and other businesses.
Both also identified transportation as an affordability issue. Moore Russell called for better connections between residents and jobs and expressed support for bus rapid transit. Messina proposed using technology to provide more direct trips rather than requiring riders to travel through a central bus hub.
Moore Russell represented District 6 on the Orange County Board of County Commissioners before serving 12 years as Orange County’s clerk of courts. Her last day as clerk was Aug. 31.
Messina has worked in technology businesses and holds an MBA from Harvard and a master’s degree in city and regional planning from Rutgers. He previously ran for county mayor in 2022, gaining 21.5% of the vote to 60.1% for Mayor Jerry Demings.
Apopka Involved Voters will host a County Commission District 2 runoff forum featuring Kamia Brown and Mike Crabb at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Victory Church, 509 S. Park Ave.
Orange County is scheduled to mail domestic vote-by-mail ballots Sept. 25. The deadline to register for the general election is Oct. 5, and the deadline to request a mail ballot is Oct. 22. Early voting runs Oct. 19 through Nov. 1. Election Day is Nov. 3, with polls open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Voters can check their registration, request or track a mail ballot, and find voting locations at voteorangefl.gov.