Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis tapped Orange County Sheriff’s Office Lt. Michael Crabb Friday evening to fill a vacancy on the Orange County board of county commissioners, just weeks before the same seat is up for election.
Crabb, a Republican, is in fact one of the five candidates running for the county commission seat this year, representing District 2. The race is officially nonpartisan. His appointment by the governor is intended to fill a vacancy left by former county commissioner Christine Moore (the only Republican on the board) who resigned from her seat in April to run for Apopka mayor. (She lost.)
Under state statutes, Florida’s governor “shall fill by appointment any vacancy in a state, district, or county office, other than a member or officer of the Legislature, for the remainder of the term of an appointive officer and for the remainder of the term of an elective office, if there is less than 28 months remaining in the term.”
Even so, the Orange County Democratic Party criticized the appointment on social media, describing it as a “complete disregard for the voters of District 2.”
“For years, Gov. DeSantis has repeatedly inserted himself into local decisions in Orange County. This latest appointment continues that pattern and, given the timing, undermines the principle that voters should choose their own representatives.”
Crabb’s name, and the names of four other four candidates who’ve filed for the District 2 seat, will be on the Aug. 18 primary election ballot for residents of the district, which stretches from Ocoee up through Eatonville and Apopka. The other four candidates vying for the seat include former Florida House representative Kamia Brown, former Orange County Democratic Party chair Wes Hodge, Ocoee city commissioner George Oliver III and family law attorney Marsha Summersill.
Orange County commissioners serve four-year terms and are currently paid an annual salary of $130,263. The county commission is currently made up of six county commissioners, plus the mayor. After this fall, however, the county commission will consist of eight commissioners, plus a new mayor (since current Mayor Jerry Demings will be vacating the seat after this election due to term limits). Orange County voters approved the addition of two new commissioners in 2024 to account for population growth.
Crabb, who also owns The Shirt Shop USA in Ocoee, lists campaign priorities on his website that include economic affordability, public safety (natural, for a sheriff’s deputy), reduced traffic congestion, responsible growth, and parks and environmental conservation.
He’s raised at least $24,825 so far for his District 2 campaign, including a $100 contribution from Orange County Sheriff John Mina, $500 from outgoing Orange County school board chair Teresa Jacobs, a $7,000 loan in self-funding (not accounting for additional contributions made by other members of the Crabb family) and $1,000 from Corona Cigar Co. founder Jeff Borysiewicz, according to campaign finance records.
