ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN NEWS) – Recently, Orange County District 4 Commissioner Jennifer Thompson did not hold back when she went live on Facebook to blast Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer for what she called “a blatant power grab“ in the 2018 District 4 Commission race.
It appears the problem started when Dyer’s homelessness and social services aide Lori Pampilo Harris filed paperwork with the Orange County Supervisor of Elections office last Friday to run for the Orange County Commission District 4 seat. Florida National News learned that Mayor Dyer will join Harris at a press conference on Wednesday in front of the Orange County Regional History Center to announce her candidacy.
Commissioner Thompson cannot run for reelection due to term limits, but she is backing her longtime aide, Susan Makowski, who filed to run for the commission seat November 1, 2017, according to the Orange County Supervisor of Elections office.
In the Facebook video, Thompson is visibly upset over Dyer’s involvement in the commission race. She said Dyer was making phone calls to the downtown establishment to let them know he expects their financial support for Harris.
Thompson noted in the video that this is a power grab by Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and the downtown establishment to get their hands on the control of the Orange County commission.
Video | Courtesy of Jennifer Thompson’s Facebook Page
Harris is the latest candidate to add her name to the crowded race for the open commission seat. Other candidates who filed paperwork are Kevin Lance Ballinger, Maribel Cordero, Susan Makowski, Gina Perez-Calhoun, and Nicolette Springer.
Orange County Commission seats 2, 4 and 6, as well as the county mayor seat, are up for election in 2018. The county primary election is set for August 28.
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Willie David is the publisher of Florida National News. | news@floridanationalnews.com