2000 Orlando mayoral election

2000 Orlando mayoral election

←  1996 March 14, 2000 2003 (special)  →

Candidate Glenda Hood Bruce Gordy Tom Levine Party Nonpartisan Nonpartisan Nonpartisan Popular vote 16,027 9,708 3,060 Percentage 55.46% 33.59% 10.59%

Mayor before election Glenda Hood Nonpartisan Elected mayor Glenda Hood Nonpartisan

The 2000 Orlando mayoral election took place on March 14, 2000. Incumbent Mayor Glenda Hood ran for re-election to a third term. She was challenged by three candidates, with City Councilmember Bruce Gordy emerging as her main competitor. ^[1] The campaign was the most expensive in city history, though Hood was viewed as the likely victor. ^[2] Hood ultimately won re-election by a wide margin, winning 55 percent of the vote to Gordy's 34 percent, and avoiding the need for a runoff election. ^[3]

Hood would not serve out her full term as Mayor, however. Following Governor Jeb Bush's re-election in 2002, he announced that he would nominate Hood to serve as Secretary of State. ^[4] Hood's resignation as Mayor triggered a 2003 special election.

General election

Candidates

• Glenda Hood, incumbent Mayor ^[5]
• Bruce Gordy, City Councilmember ^[6]
• Tom Levine, traveling salesman, 1992 candidate for City Council ^[7]
• Steve Villard, auto repairman, 1996 candidate for Mayor ^[7]

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size [a]	Margin of error	Glenda Hood	Bruce Gordy	Tom Levine	Undecided
Mason-Dixon Polling & Strategy [8]	February 24–25, 2000	406 (LV)	± 5.0%	48%	28%	3%	21%

Results

2000 Orlando mayoral election results ^[9]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Nonpartisan	Glenda Hood (inc.)	16,027	55.46%
	Nonpartisan	Bruce Gordy	9,708	33.59%
	Nonpartisan	Tom Levine	3,060	10.59%
	Nonpartisan	Steve Villard	104	15.96%
Total votes			28,899	100.00%

Notes

1. Key:
   A – all adults
   RV – registered voters
   LV – likely voters
   V – unclear

References

1. Tracy, Dan (January 29, 2000). "Hood is last to join race". Orlando Sentinel . Orlando, Florida. p. D-3. Retrieved July 23, 2025.
2. Tracy, Dan (March 14, 2000). "It's decision day for Orlando voters". Orlando Sentinel . Orlando, Florida. p. A-1. Retrieved July 23, 2025.
3. Tracy, Dan (March 15, 2000). "Glenda's gotta stay, voters say". Orlando Sentinel . Orlando, Florida. p. A-1. Retrieved July 23, 2025.
4. Bandell, Brian (December 22, 2022). "Gov. Bush names secretary of state: Orlando Mayor Glenda Hood nominated to succeed Jim Smith". Tallahassee Democrat . Tallahassee, Florida. p. 1A. Retrieved July 23, 2025.
5. Tracy, Dan (October 8, 1999). "Hood will go after her 3rd term as Orlando's mayor". Orlando Sentinel . Orlando, Florida. p. D-3. Retrieved July 23, 2025.
6. Tracy, Dan (November 2, 1999). "Council's Gordy in mayoral contest". Orlando Sentinel . Orlando, Florida. p. D-3. Retrieved July 23, 2025.
7. Tracy, Dan (February 7, 2000). "Meet the future mayor of Orlando". Orlando Sentinel . Orlando, Florida. p. C-1. Retrieved July 23, 2025.
8. Tracy, Dan (March 1, 2000). "Hood holds hefty lead over challengers, poll finds". Orlando Sentinel . Orlando, Florida. p. A-1. Retrieved July 23, 2025.
9. "Election Results 2000-2008" (PDF). Orlando City Clerk. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 15, 2015. Retrieved July 23, 2025.