1980 Orlando mayoral election

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1980 Orlando mayoral election
Flag of Orlando, Florida (1980-2017).gif
← 1976September 9, 1980 1984  →
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Candidate Bill Frederick Shelton AdamsDale C. Smith
Party Nonpartisan Nonpartisan Nonpartisan
Popular vote15,9605,4811,982
Percentage68.14%23.40%8.46%
Mayor before election

Carl T. Langford
Nonpartisan

Elected mayor

Bill Frederick
Nonpartisan

The 1980 Orlando mayoral election took place on September 9, 1980. Incumbent Mayor Carl T. Langford declined to seek re-election to a fourth term. [1] Three candidates ran to succeed him: attorney Bill Frederick, City Commissioner Shelton Adams, and city planner Dale Smith.

Contents

Adams and Frederick emerged as the frontrunners, [2] but one month prior to the election, the race was upended when the IRS opened a criminal investigation into Adams's finances. [3] Adams denied any wrongdoing, and alleged that the probe was politically motivated. [4] The Sentinel Star endorsed Frederick, praising him as "hav[ing] the best chance to unite this community behind a city government that works for all its citizens," and criticizing Adams's "burning ambition for the mayor's office." [5]

Frederick ultimately won the election in a landslide, receiving 68 percent of the vote to Adams's 23 percent and Smith's 8 percent. [6] Shortly after the election, the IRS dropped its investigation into Adams's finances, which he alleged was "brought forward by someone" associated with Frederick. [7]

General election

Candidates

Declined

Results

1980 mayoral election results [11]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Nonpartisan Bill Frederick 15,960 68.14%
Nonpartisan Shelton Adams5,48123.40%
Nonpartisan Dale C. Smith1,9828.46%
Total votes23,423 100.00%

References

  1. 1 2 Rodeheffer, Jon (April 21, 1979). "Langford to sit out 4th term". Sentinel Star . Orlando, Florida. p. 1-A. Retrieved July 23, 2025.
  2. ↑ Ziffer, Randy (July 10, 1980). "Big bucks back candidates". Sentinel Star . Orlando, Florida. p. 1-C. Retrieved July 23, 2025.
  3. ↑ Ziffer, Randy (August 9, 1980). "Shelton Adams target of IRS inquiry". Sentinel Star . Orlando, Florida. p. 1-A. Retrieved July 23, 2025.
  4. ↑ Lipman, Larry (August 28, 1980). "Mayor candidate Adams links IRS probe to political foes". Sentinel Star . Orlando, Florida. p. 5-C. Retrieved July 23, 2025.
  5. ↑ "Bill Frederick can unify city". Sentinel Star . Orlando, Florida. September 4, 1980. p. 22-A. Retrieved July 23, 2025.
  6. ↑ Lipman, Larry (September 10, 1980). "Frederick elected mayor". Sentinel Star . Orlando, Florida. p. 1-A. Retrieved July 23, 2025.
  7. ↑ Ziffer, Randy (September 30, 1980). "IRS drops criminal tax probe of Adams". Sentinel Star . Orlando, Florida. p. 1-A. Retrieved July 23, 2025.
  8. ↑ Rodeheffer, Jon (June 14, 1979). "Frederick in race for mayor". Sentinel Star . Orlando, Florida. p. 1-A. Retrieved July 23, 2025.
  9. ↑ Kavesh, Laura (November 16, 1979). "Adams' account 'formalizes' intention to seek mayor's job". Sentinel Star . Orlando, Florida. p. 1-C. Retrieved July 23, 2025.
  10. ↑ "Campaign kick-offs". Sentinel Star . Orlando, Florida. February 1, 1980. p. 1-C. Retrieved July 23, 2025.
  11. ↑ "Election Results 1980-1988" (PDF). Orlando City Clerk. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 25, 2015. Retrieved July 23, 2025.
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