1998 Orange County, Florida Chairman election

1998 Orange County, Florida Chairman election

←  1994 September 1, 1998 November 3, 1998 2002  →

Candidate Mel Martínez John Ostalkiewicz Fran Pignone First round 32,982 39.96% 33,573 40.68% 11,451 13.88% Runoff 100,434 59.99% 66,988 40.01% Eliminated

Chairman before election Linda Chapin Nonpartisan Elected Chairman Mel Martínez Nonpartisan

The 1998 Orange County, Florida, Chairman election took place on November 3, 1998, following a primary election on September 1, 1998. Incumbent Chairman Linda Chapin was term-limited and barred from seeking a third consecutive term. Though the race was formally nonpartisan, two Republican candidates advanced to the general election. State Senator John Ostalkiewicz played first in the primary with 41 percent of the vote, and Orlando Utilities Commission President Mel Martínez placed second with 40 percent. In the general election, Martínez defeated Ostalkiewicz in a landslide, winning 60 percent of the vote. However, halfway through Martínez's term, he would resign to become U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.

Primary election

Candidates

• John Ostalkiewicz, State Senator (Republican) ^[1]
• Mel Martínez, President of the Orlando Utilities Commission, 1994 Republican candidate for Lieutenant Governor (Republican) ^[2]
• Fran Pignone, former Orange County Commissioner, 1994 candidate for Chairman (Democratic) ^[3]
• Alex Lamour, mortgage broker ^[4]
• Jim Newslow, retired doctor ^[5]

Results

1998 Orange County, Florida, Chairman primary election ^[6]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Nonpartisan	John Ostalkiewicz	33,573	40.68%
	Nonpartisan	Mel Martínez	32,982	39.96%
	Nonpartisan	Fran Pignone	11,451	13.88%
	Nonpartisan	Alex Lamour	3,274	3.97%
	Nonpartisan	Jim Newslow	1,248	1.51%
Total votes			82,528	100.00%

General election

Results

1998 Orange County, Florida, Chairman general election ^[7]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Nonpartisan	Mel Martínez	100,434	59.99%
	Nonpartisan	John Ostalkiewicz	66,988	40.01%
Total votes			167,422	100.00%

References

1. Spear, Kevin (May 16, 1998). "Ostalkiewicz jolts race for chairman". Orlando Sentinel . Orlando, Florida. p. A-1. Retrieved July 6, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
2. Tracy, Dan; Lancaster, Cory (January 3, 1997). "OUC leader eyes Orange's top job". Orlando Sentinel . Orlando, Florida. p. C-1. Retrieved July 6, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
3. Maxwell, Scott (July 17, 1998). "Orange chairman race shock -- Pignone runs". Orlando Sentinel . Orlando, Florida. p. A-1. Retrieved July 6, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
4. Maxwell, Scott (June 29, 1998). "Orange chairman race gets shot of adrenalin". Orlando Sentinel . Orlando, Florida. p. B-3. Retrieved July 6, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
5. Spear, Kevin (April 14, 1998). "Martinez leads in campaign money". Orlando Sentinel . Orlando, Florida. p. D-3. Retrieved July 6, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
6. "1998 Primary Elections Results - COUNTY CHAIRMAN". Orange County Supervisor of Elections. Archived from the original on February 24, 1999. Retrieved July 6, 2025.
7. "1998 General Election Results". Orange County Supervisor of Elections. Archived from the original on October 2, 1999. Retrieved July 6, 2025.