ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. (FNN) — Randy Ross has announced his candidacy for Orange County Commissioner, District 3, seeking to replace incumbent Commissioner Mayra Uribe, who has filed to run for Orange County mayor in 2026.

Ross, an Orlando resident and longtime community advocate, currently serves on the Orange County Membership Mission and Review Board. He was appointed to the board by Uribe and is serving his third term.

Ross said his campaign will focus on what he calls “intentional leadership,” emphasizing practical solutions and community-centered decision-making over political rhetoric.

“This campaign is about being intentional,” Ross said. “Intentional about protecting neighborhoods. Intentional about responsible growth. Intentional about public safety. Intentional about listening before speaking — and solving before signaling.”

District 3 faces ongoing challenges, including infrastructure demands tied to rapid growth, environmental concerns and maintaining accessible local government. Ross said his campaign will prioritize measurable results that address the needs of families, small businesses, seniors and first responders.

Responsible Growth and Infrastructure

Ross said development must keep pace with roads, schools, drainage systems and public safety services. He advocates for planning strategies that ensure infrastructure is not outpaced by expansion.

Public Safety and Community Standards

Ross pledged support for law enforcement and initiatives aimed at protecting neighborhood integrity and maintaining quality-of-life standards throughout District 3.

Senior Services and Small Business Support

Ross said he will advocate for expanded senior resources, including aging-in-place programs and caregiver support, while also promoting policies designed to reduce regulatory burdens on small businesses and strengthen the local economy.

He also emphasized the importance of civil discourse in public service.

“Orange County doesn’t need louder voices. It needs steady hands,” Ross said. “We can disagree without being divided. We can grow without losing who we are. And we can govern with intention.”

Ross said he plans to begin meeting with residents, business owners and community leaders across District 3 in the coming weeks to gather input and discuss policy priorities.

Other candidates who have filed to run for the District 3 seat include Nelson Betancourt, Gus Martinez, Linda Stewart, Stephanie Ziglar, Walker Smith IV and Marthaly Irizarry.

By The Honorable Rick Singh
Former Orange County Property Appraiser
Commentary

From marching alongside Martin Luther King Jr. to founding the Rainbow PUSH Coalition and running historic presidential campaigns, Reverend Jesse Jackson never stopped challenging America to live up to its promise.

He empowered millions to declare, “I am somebody,” and helped expand opportunities for leaders of color in politics and public life.

During the Justice for Trayvon Martin movement, I had the extraordinary honor of spending time with Reverend Jesse Lewis Jackson — not for a single meeting, but for two full weeks as I drove him throughout Florida.

What made the experience even more unforgettable was this: Reverend Jackson was traveling with his biographer, who often sat in the back seat of my car.

So for two weeks, I didn’t just have the privilege of being near a civil rights icon — I had a front-row seat to living history.

As we drove from city to city, I listened to stories you won’t find in textbooks — stories from the heart of the Civil Rights Movement. Stories of struggle, sacrifice, and strategy. Stories about the leaders he stood beside, the battles he fought, and the moments that helped shape America.

But what stayed with me just as much as the history…
was the humanity.

One of the most memorable parts of those two weeks was watching Reverend Jackson in everyday moments — especially when we stopped at one of his favorite restaurants: Cracker Barrel.

Away from microphones and stages, I saw him interact with people from every walk of life — working families, seniors, young people, staff members, strangers who recognized him, and people who didn’t.

And he treated them all the same.

With respect.
With warmth.
With patience.
With genuine attention.

It was a powerful reminder that his leadership was never about ego — it was always about people.

In his later years, like so many of our elders, there were moments when it took him a while to recognize me.

I’ll be honest — at first, I felt that familiar sadness that comes when you realize time is catching up with all of us.

But then something happened that I will never forget.

After we talked for a bit — just when I thought he still wasn’t sure who I was — he suddenly lit up and said:

“Singh! You still got the 550?”

He was talking about my Mercedes.

And in that instant, I didn’t just laugh — I felt something deeper.

Because that wasn’t small talk.

That was Jesse Jackson reminding me that even when time tries to steal memories, the important ones fight their way back. Some connections don’t disappear — they just take a little longer to surface.

I also remember something else — something personal.

At the time, I was on the fence about running for public office.

I had the desire… but I also had uncertainty.

Reverend Jackson sensed it.

He smiled and told me I was sharp, good-looking, tall, and had a good head of hair — and then he said something that I still carry with me today.

He looked at me and said:

“Singh… you are somebody.”

In that moment, I understood something great leaders do better than anyone else:

They don’t just inspire crowds.
They inspire individuals.

They plant seeds.

They remind you of your worth — and your responsibility — even when you’re not sure you’re ready.

Reverend Jesse Lewis Jackson is not simply someone who witnessed history — he helped write it.

He spent his life standing up for those who were too often ignored, mistreated, or left behind. Long before it was popular — long before it was safe — he made it his mission to challenge America to live up to its promise, not just in words, but in action.

He carried that same fight into the national spotlight, including his historic run for President, expanding the national conversation about justice, opportunity, and inclusion in ways that changed American politics forever.

What I will never forget is not only his stature — but his presence.

Even in quiet moments between stops, there was something powerful about him: calm strength, deep faith, and an unwavering sense of purpose.

Those two weeks gave me something rare —
a deeper understanding of the past… and a clearer view of what leadership truly looks like.

I will always be grateful for that experience — for the conversations, the lessons, and for the reminder that progress is never automatic.

Progress is built by people who refuse to give up.

Reverend Jesse Lewis Jackson is one of those people.

And I am proud to say I had the honor of driving him across Florida — and the privilege of witnessing up close the kind of courage, humility, and commitment that helps move a nation forward.

Thank you, Reverend Jackson.

And thank you for reminding me — and so many others — of a truth the world still needs to hear:

We are somebody.