We had the honor of sitting down for an exclusive interview with Mayor Jerry Demings, a man who has been at the forefront of shaping the future of Orange County, particularly in the rapidly developing Horizon West area. Mayor Demings discussed the exciting projects underway, the challenges faced, and his vision for our growing county. Join us as we unpack the latest news, insights, and plans that are shaping the landscape of Horizon West.

Horizon West Happenings: Welcome, Mayor Demings, to Horizon West!  We’re thrilled to have the opportunity to speak with you! 

Mayor Demings: Thank you for having me. It’s a pleasure to be here.

Horizon West Happenings: We’re going to start with the basics: background and experience. Can you share your story and what led you to become the County Mayor?

Mayor Demings: My roots are firmly planted in Orlando. Born and raised here, I’m a product of Orange County. My parents were blue-collar workers. Dad came from Alabama in 1939 and Mom from a small town in north Florida called Havana. We were a family of five children, including my twin brother, Terry. Growing up, our family was poor, but we didn’t realize it at the time. Most of our neighbors were in the same situation.

Orlando was a segregated community when I was young. We lived in Paramore and then Washington Shores in West Orlando. I went to Orange County Public Schools, graduating from Jones High School. My formative years were spent in segregated schools. It wasn’t until junior high that I went to school with children who didn’t look like me. It was also in junior high that I took a civics class, taught by a wonderful Italian gentleman named Mr. Staglia, who I recently bumped into in Winter Park. He reminded me I was in his class, though he looks different now, 50 years later. That class sparked my interest in civics and politics.

Growing up during the civil rights movement, I listened intently to the speeches of civil rights leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. Their message of equality and equal rights resonated deeply. Hearing them speak about the inequalities they were fighting against made me realize, as a kid, I was living in that very world, a world of separation and disparity.

That experience shaped my perspective on life. My mom insisted on a good education for all her children. I ended up with an associate’s, bachelor’s, and master’s degree. After college, I returned to Orlando and started my career as an accountant, but I wasn’t fulfilled. I moved to law enforcement, where I witnessed firsthand the consequences of systemic inequality. It was a career that led me to work with people from all walks of life, from the homeless on the streets to the presidents of the United States. My law enforcement career allowed me to meet celebrities and movie stars. It was truly a life-changing experience, and it solidified my commitment to public service.

Although I never dreamt of being mayor, I knew I wanted to make a difference in my community. My public service journey started with voting rights activism and involvement in various non-profit organizations and campaigns. I was a spectator for a long time, but I decided to act. My journey to becoming mayor was a gradual process, guided by prayer, reflection, and encouragement from others. I’ve had a remarkable career in law enforcement, serving as chief of police in Orlando and then as sheriff of Orange County for a decade. But ultimately, it was the encouragement of others that led me to run for mayor.

Horizon West Happenings: It’s clear you have a wealth of experience. What experiences do you believe have best prepared you for this role?

Mayor Demings: Leading a large Sheriff’s Office provided me with crucial experience as a CEO. I’ve also served as deputy county administrator, managing significant parts of the county budget. Public safety is paramount, and I had the opportunity to be the top public safety advisor to Mayor Crotty. My educational background, including my MBA, bachelor’s in finance, and associate’s degree, has been invaluable.

My volunteer work in the community, from coaching Little League to serving on numerous boards, has given me an intimate understanding of the social challenges our community faces. It’s the combination of my education, training, and experiences that make me uniquely qualified to be mayor.

Horizon West Happenings: Looking ahead, what is your vision for Orange County?

Mayor Demings: My vision is to make Orange County the experimental prototype community of tomorrow, the kind of place Walt Disney envisioned. A place where innovation and technology thrives, but where no one gets left behind. I want a community that is truly by the people, for the people.

This vision includes many things: sustainable growth, protecting our natural resources, increasing economic vitality, and ensuring that everyone can succeed. To achieve this vision, we’ve developed a blueprint for my administration. We created a transition team, a diverse group of citizens from all walks of life, to establish our priorities. Their work led to a document focused on areas like housing, transportation, education, and sustainability. This document emphasizes innovation, collaboration, and inclusion.

We’ve also implemented several initiatives, including Orange County’s first housing trust fund, which was the result of a “Housing for All” task force. We’ve updated our sustainability plan, and we’re working to ensure that we’re using the tourist development tax strategically. Our approach is collaborative, with citizen-driven initiatives, task forces, and plans to address issues like crime, homelessness, and mental health. We’re transparent, reporting on our progress and holding ourselves accountable. We’ve even appointed a chief innovations and technology officer and a chief sustainability officer to keep those priorities front and center.

Horizon West Happenings: How do you plan to engage with the community and make sure their voices are heard?

Mayor Demings: Our approach to community engagement is all about integration. We don’t plan in isolation and then present our ideas to the community. We involve them from the beginning. We’ve conducted surveys on transportation, held over 300 community meetings, and utilized all mediums of communication to keep residents informed.

I’ve conducted more press conferences than most mayors, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. We’ve emphasized teamwork and collaboration to address the challenges we’ve faced. We rely on community organizations like Horizon West Happenings to help us share our story and connect with residents.

We’ve also reinvented the Mayor’s Citizen’s Academy, a program designed to educate residents about county government. We hold annual open houses where residents can tour the county building, meet with staff, and learn about our services. My goal is to educate the public about the role of the county mayor, especially those who have moved to Orange County from other areas. We want to ensure everyone understands how county government works and how they can participate.

Horizon West Happenings: What do you think makes Horizon West unique compared to other parts of Orange County?

Mayor Demings: Horizon West was envisioned as a community of diverse housing types, multi-family, single-family, urban, and rural, all integrated into one master plan. It was designed with sidewalks, bike paths, and villages that were self-sustaining. The idea was to create a community where you could live, work, shop, and access healthcare all within the same area. We did face some challenges, however, in keeping pace with the incredible population growth. We need to invest in infrastructure and multimodal transportation options to support the vision for Horizon West.

Horizon West Happenings: What do you see as the biggest challenge facing Orange County today, and how do you plan to address it?

Mayor Demings: Growth is undoubtedly the biggest challenge. It brings many other challenges, including housing, homelessness, public safety, utilities, and environmental impacts.

We need to be intentional about managing growth and creating solutions. We can’t simply stop growing; that would have devastating economic consequences. Our tourism industry is thriving, but we need to diversify our economy. We must be proactive, not reactive, to address these challenges. We need to develop comprehensive plans that consider the long-term impacts of growth. We need to invest in infrastructure, improve public transit, and create jobs that are aligned with the innovative and technological advancements of the future.

Horizon West Happenings: Finally, what do you hope your legacy will be as county mayor?

Mayor Demings: I pray that my legacy will be one of improving the quality of life for the most vulnerable in our community. We’ve made significant strides in addressing homelessness, mental illness, and access to healthcare. I want to ensure that we leave behind a community that is more equal and just. We’ve prioritized diversity and inclusion in our hiring and appointment decisions. We’re working to create opportunities for all, regardless of background or identity. Ultimately, my hope is that Orange County will be a place where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered to reach their full potential.

Horizon West Happenings: Thank you so much for sharing your insights, Mayor Demings. It’s been a privilege speaking with you.

Mayor Demings: Thank you for having me. It’s been a pleasure!

And there you have it! A truly insightful conversation with Mayor Jerry Demings, providing a clear picture of his dedication to the growth and development of Horizon West. His passion for the community and his comprehensive vision for its future were truly inspiring.

We hope this interview shed light on the exciting projects underway, the challenges being addressed, and the bright future that awaits Horizon West.

Want to stay connected?

• Mayor Demings’ Office: You can reach Mayor Demings’ office by phone at (407) 836-6000 or via email at mayor@ocfl.net.
• Orange County Florida Mayor’s Office: For general inquiries or to find out more about the services and resources offered by the Mayor’s Office, visit their website at www.ocfl.net/mayor.

Stay tuned for more updates on Horizon West happenings, and remember, your voice matters! Engage with your community, stay informed, and be a part of shaping the future of our community!