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Demings Swears In As Orange County's First African American Mayor

Jerry L. Demings/credit: OCFL

It’s official. Jerry L. Demings was sworn in Tuesday as Orange County mayor.

The former sheriff quoted Walt Disney in saying he plans to make Orange County the experimental prototype community of tomorrow.

"My top four priorities will be on addressing the affordable housing crisis, developing a long-term solution to our regional transportation issues, economic development and enhancing public safety," Demings said.

The former sheriff held back tears as he talked of the proud moment, especially with his 96-year-old father at the ceremony.

"It is a blessing for him to have lived long enough to witness what he dreamed," he said.

Demings said his next order of business will be to fill vacant senior management positions, and he will announce his plans soon.

A new set of county commissioners also took the oath. Christine Moore from District 2, District 3’s Mayra Uribe and District 4’s Maribel Gomez Cordero were sworn in for the first time. District 6 Commissioner Victoria P. Siplin was sworn in for the second time.

 

After a brief stint as Morning Edition Producer at The Public’s Radio in Rhode Island, Talia Blake returned to Central Florida Public Media. She is a graduate of the University of Central Florida with degrees in both Broadcast Journalism and Psychology. While at UCF, she was an intern for Central Florida’s public affairs show, Intersection. She joined on as Morning Edition Host in 2019. In 2022, Ms. Blake was appointed to the Florida Association of Broadcast Journalist’s board of directors.