WATERMARK
Issue 5.06
March 19 - April 1, 1998
Page 5
Low Turnout Impacts Orlando Election
Councilman Ammerman Handily Defeated Challenger Dack Cole in District 1
ORLANDO - The contect for seats on the Orlando CIty Council ran hot and cold on March 10. In district 1. the gay -popular downtown district, incombent Don Ammerman defeated callenger Richard "Dack" Cole, 957 to 474. The lost by COle to AMmerman was a disappointment to the Rainbow Democratic CLub (RDC), which had focused the bulk of its energies on this race. Most surprising was the low turnout for Cole.
IN District 5, the election found Daisy Lynum getting 719 of the votes, with her closest competitor, Charlie Jean Salter, earning 430. While this is a numerical victory for Lynum in the hotly contested race for the council seat being vacated by Nap Ford, she only earned 43 percent of the vote. Fifty percent or more is needed to win, soa runoff election between Lynum and Salter is slated for April 14. However, RDC
The race in District 3 between incumbent C. Bruce Gordy and challenger David Rose was easily settled when Gordy garnered nearly 70 percent of the votes cast. This was also viewed as a victory by RDC, since Gordy has been considered a friendly vote on the council.
Overall in Orlando, just 15 percent of eligible voters turned out for the elections. While this beats previous city elections, which have traditionally seen only a ten percent showing, it was hardly what the RDC, or election officials, hoped for. The current standing of the Orlando CIty Council, aside from the undetermined District 5, is as follows: District 1, Don Ammerman; District 2, Betty Wyman; District 3, C. Bruce Gordy' District 4, Bill Bagley; and District 6, Ernest Page. WIth either Lynum or Salter winning District 5, RDC foresees that the council will be roughly evenly divided between supporters of and opposition to Mayor Glenda Hood. Council members serve for four years, and the next vote for the council coincides with the mayoral race in 1000. Patty Sheehan, who is openly lesbian, has already declared that she will seek the District 4 seat in 2000.
Other local races were in Oakland, Windermere, Belle Island, and WInter Garden. In WInter Garden, Jack Quesinberry retained his seat for mayor, as did Jon VanderLey in Oakland.
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