Leaders express optimism in bout with coronavirus

Amid steady declines in rates of positive COVID19 tests, hospitalizations, cases in assisted living facilities and other key metrics, Orange leaders expressed optimism the county was in good shape after a spike in previous weeks.

Also, the county has vaccinated about half of its senior population with at least one dose of the vaccine to prevent further infections. But restrictions shouldn’t be loosened, said Dr. Raul Pino, the local state health officer, or the region could again slip.

“I have to say, the county is in very good shape,” he said. “That doesn’t mean we have to in any form or shape, relax what we’re doing.”

Pino said there are 170 ICU beds available in the county, while about 5.49% of tests have returned positive for the virus over the past two weeks, a number that continues to trend lower.

His analysis Monday comes as vaccine efforts are about to increase in the coming days: Federally-run sites are expected to pour more shots into the region and Gov. Ron DeSantis ordered that teachers, law enforcement and firefighters over 50 can be inoculated, along with those deemed extremely vulnerable to the virus.

Also, federal officials approved use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which while less effective than Pfizer and Moderna cocktails, can be stored more easily and only requires one dosage. The shot could begin pouring into the county this week, but Pino said the state-run Orange County Convention

Center wasn’t slated to receive them.

“I think what the state is doing is actually wise by going by age,” said Pino, who said opening up too quickly could overwhelm systems.

But the loosened restrictions still means thousands more are eligible, including more than 9,500 Orange County Public Schools teachers, a spokesman said.

Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings noted that with March beginning Monday, the county had been in the throes of the pandemic for nearly a year, but expressed confidence the region would emerge strong.

“Herd immunity is our goal, which is nearly 80% of our population,” Demings said.

With CPAC in town over the weekend, bringing throngs of conservative voters and politicians to Hyatt Regency on International Drive — capped with a speech from former President Donald Trump Sunday evening — county compliance teams visited Friday and found hotel employees trying to encourage safe protocols.

The hotel, which submitted a COVID safety plan to the county for review, received a vote of confidence from health teams despite spotty mask-wearing by conventioneers.

“They found that the hotel was making every effort to make sure their guests were following their countywide facial covering order,” Demings said. “However, we know that some of the attendees were non-compliant.”

Winter Garden voters will decide three city commission seats March 9, including the District 3 clash between incumbent Mark Maciel and his predecessor, Bobby Olszewski.

Olszewski, who served as District 3 commissioner from 2012 to 2016, said Maciel, a land developer, has professional conflicts that interfere with serving constituents.

“I don’t own any land in the city that needs to be developed,” Olszewski said. “I’m here to serve the people and do what’s right.”

Maciel said Olszewski’s claims “twist the truth.”

The incumbent said he has been careful as a commissioner not to mix his public service with his business interests and has served the city honorably and honestly.

“If anything even has a sniff of impropriety I recuse myself [from voting],” he said.

Winter Garden voters also will decide commission seats for District 2 and District 4.

The city of about 45,000 residents has been among the county’s fastest-growing communities, adding more than 10,000 residents in the last decade.

The winners earn four-year terms, which pay $7,200 a year.

District 2

Iliana Ramos Jones, 54, chief financial officer of her family’s subcontracting firm Empire Finish Systems, and Ron Mueller,

56, a technology manager, are vying to replace 14-year District 2 Commissioner Bob Buchanan, who chose not to seek re-election.

Mueller, who served on the city’s Charter Review Committee, is concerned about development interests filling governing boards.

“I love Winter Garden and want to continue seeing it prosper,” Mueller said. “However, ... we are shifting to a mentality of counting rooftops as a measure of success. This is shortsighted and will erase the charm that makes Winter Garden special. Growth will happen. We just need to be a lot smarter about what we are approving and hold the line against over development.”

He said he is better informed than his opponent and more experienced.

A first-time candidate, Ramos Jones said she will be more openminded than Mueller, saying he opposes “any kind of growth.”

“Winter Garden is where it is right now because there was some growth,” she said. “Twenty years ago, you couldn’t even stop somewhere for a cup of coffee because there were no places . ... Growth has to be very carefully planned but it’s necessary.”

She said the city’s biggest challenge now is managing traffic.

District 3

Maciel, 55, served on the Winter Garden planning and zoning board before he was elected commissioner in 2017 to fill Olszewski’s former seat.

He described the city as “the benchmark for other cities and not just for quality of life.”

“I believe we all know that the City of Winter Garden is on the rise. It’s my goal to keep citizens first,” he said.

Olszewski, 43, a state legislator from 2017-18, said he never voted to raise taxes while serving Winter Garden residents. He also is concerned about over-development.

“Winter Garden enjoys an incredible reputation, but we are seeing development encroach on our quality of life,” he said.

Olszewski said city leaders need to preserve natural resources and listen more to residents and not developers, while managing growth.

He denied he is anti-growth. “But it has to be smart growth. It has to fit the unique charm and feel of our communities. That’s what we want,” he said.

Maciel said he does not view the commission seat as a stepping stone to a higher-paying elected office, a thinly veiled criticism of Olszewski, who ran for Orange County commissioner and the state Legislature. Maciel said the city needs to work harder to address poverty issues and homelessness in east Winter Garden, a part of District 3.

“The pandemic made this crack in our society even bigger and more visible,” he said.

District 4

First-time commission candidate Dawn Antonis, 55, is challenging incumbent Colin Sharman for the District 4 seat, which he has held for 15 years.

“I want to be sure we are growing in a way that preserves what people love about Winter Garden,” she said.

Antonis said she hopes to help find ways to help local businesses grow “especially during these uniquely challenging times.” She also said she offers a fresh perspective to a city that “needs new ideas.”

Antonis said Winter Garden should consider agricultural and environmental needs as it grows.

Sharman, a sales-account manager for Trane USA, said he first got involved in local politics when plans for the Fowlers Grove shopping district were announced.

“It’s not just about balancing the city’s budget but doing the right things for us and looking out for our citizens and what’s best for them,” he said.

Sharman said voters can easily gauge the effectiveness of his public service.

“If they love how the city of Winter Garden has grown and evolved over the past 15 years, ... they should vote to keep my vision for the city moving forward,” he said.

He wants the city to focus on re-developing blighted areas on State Road 50 and Dillard Street; stick with the vision in the master parks plan, as the city expands the Tucker Ranch property southwest of S.R. 50; and add a southern extension of the West Orange Trail through District 4.