Sheriff Jerry Demings files to run for Orange County mayor

Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings filed Thursday to run for county mayor in the 2018 election, records show.

Demings, who has been sheriff since 2008, would be the first African-American mayor of Orange County if he were to win.

Current Mayor Teresa Jacobs is term-limited and cannot run again. Demings plans to hold an event today to discuss more details about his candidacy.

Jose Datil Colom and Robert Edward Melanson also have filed to run for mayor.

Colom, who was ordered to serve probation in a public corruption case, ran for the Orange County Commission last year but lost to incumbent Pete Clarke.

Melanson also ran for a commission seat and has had his own runins with the law. He was convicted of trespassing on the roof of singer Rihanna’s mansion in Los Angeles.

Other potential candidates include Orange County Tax Collector Scott Randolph, Property Appraiser Rick Singh, School Board Chairman Bill Sublette, former County Mayor Rich Crotty and former Florida Senate President Andy Gardiner.

According to Florida law, Demings would need to resign before qualifying to run for another position. He was elected to serve another four-year term in 2016.

Demings will have until June 2018 to formally tender his resignation, which would be effective Dec. 4, 2018, the day he would either be sworn in as mayor or leave office as sheriff after losing the mayor’s race, said Orange County Supervisor of Elections Bill Cowles.

A special primary and election will be scheduled to fill the remaining two years of Demings’ term.

His run also opens the door for a possibly crowded race for sheriff in 2018.

Orlando police Chief John Mina, Danny Banks, Florida Department of Law Enforcement Special Agent in Charge, and retired Orange County sheriff’s Lt. Paul “Spike” Hopkins all have said they are considering running for Orange County sheriff in 2018.

No one has officially filed in the race.