Dyer, ex-mayors back Stuart in race for Orlando council

Orlando District 3 Commissioner Robert Stuart has won the endorsements of Mayor Buddy Dyer and two of his predecessors ahead of next month’s city elections.

In a letter mailed to voters by Stuart’s campaign, Dyer calls Stuart a “strong leader” who helped guide Orlando through Hurricane Irma and the massacre at Pulse nightclub.

“In addition, he has been an effective advocate and champion for safe neighborhoods, fiscally responsible budgeting, for finding solutions to Orlando’s homeless challenge and for increasing and renewing our parks and green spaces,” Dyer’s letter states.

Dyer also credited Stuart with helping revitalize neighborhood commercial districts and create “thousands of new jobs.”

Stuart’s campaign also released a joint statement from former Orlando mayors Glenda Hood and Bill Frederick, who said they both “looked to Stuart for leadership” on key issues while in office and “encourage all in District 3 to vote for him.”

“As Orlando residents and former mayors, we have known and worked with Stuart and his family for many years,” the endorsement said. “He is a man of integrity, compassion, and action.”

Stuart is opposed by Asima Azam, a real estate attorney, in the election set for Nov. 7.

Issues in the race include crime, city services and property taxes.

Stuart’s campaign raised about $120,000 and spent $63,000 through August, while Azam raised $93,000 and spent $22,000.

In a statement, Azam touted her support from Orlando’s firefighters union, but she said she expected to trail Stuart in endorsements.

“From the beginning, our campaign has instead focused on building support from individual voters, and that strategy has allowed us to match him nearly dollar for dollar in our fund-raising and run a very competitive campaign,” she said.