2003 Orlando mayoral special election

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2003 Orlando mayoral election
Flag of Orlando, Florida (1980-2017).gif
←  2000 February 4, 2003 (primary election)
February 25, 2003 (runoff election)		 2004  →
  Buddy Dyer 2003.jpg 3x4.svg
Candidate Buddy Dyer Pete Barr
Party Nonpartisan Nonpartisan
First round8,826
32.60%		6,033
22.68%
Runoff 17,039
57.33%		12,681
42.67%
  Perez crop (1).jpg Portrait of Republican legislator William E. Sublette.jpg
Candidate Tico Perez Bill Sublette
Party Nonpartisan Nonpartisan
First round4,316
15.94%		3,580
13.22%
Runoff EliminatedEliminated
Mayor before election

Glenda Hood
Nonpartisan

Elected mayor

Buddy Dyer
Nonpartisan

The 2003 Orlando mayoral special election took place on February 25, 2003, following a primary election on February 4, 2003. Mayor Glenda Hood, who was last elected in 2000, resigned following her nomination as Secretary of State of Florida, triggering a special election.

Contents

Eight candidates ran in the special election, the largest number of candidates in city history. [1] Former State Senator Buddy Dyer, former State Representative Bill Sublette advertising executive Pete Barr, attorney Tico Perez, and businessman Derrick Wallace emerged as the frontrunners. In the primary election, Dyer placed first, winning 33 percent of the vote, and he was followed by Barr, who won 22 percent of the vote. [2] In the runoff election, though polls indicated a close race, Dyer defeated Barr in a landslide, winning 57 percent of the vote. [3]

Primary election

Candidates

Dropped out

  • Doug Guetzloe, anti-tax activist [11]
  • Homer Hartage, County Commissioner [12]

Campaign

After Governor Jeb Bush was re-elected in 2002, he announced that he would nominate Mayor Glenda Hood to serve as Secretary of State. [13] Hood tendered her resignation as Mayor, which triggered a special election. Several high-profile candidates announced that they would run, including former State Senator Buddy Dyer, former State Representative Bill Sublette, County Commissioner Homer Hartage, advertising executive Pete Barr, and businessman Derrick Wallace. [8] Hartage, who would have had to resign his seat on the County Commission under Florida's resign-to-run law, challenged the legality of the election timing, but after his lawsuit was dismissed, he dropped out of the race. [12]

During the campaign, Hood disclosed that the city ended the fiscal year with a $12 million deficit and anticipated a $14 million deficit in the coming fiscal year, which shifted the focus of the campaign. Barr claimed that he could cut $50 million in "fluff" from the city budget, but did not identify which projects he would cut. Dyer, a former state senator, emphasized that his experience in "making tough budget decisions and prioritizing budget items" while in the legislature would help him deal with the shortfalls, while Sublette noted that he had previously called for a "thorough review of the budget" prior to the disclosure of the deficit. [14]

Though the race was formally nonpartisan, the candidates mounted campaigns that focused on partisan themes. Barr, Perez, and Sublette were registered Republicans; Dyer, Rich, and Wallace were Democrats; and Lamour and Leichering were registered independents. Sublette campaigned as the "only candidate with a conservative Republican record," while Barr set out campaign literature advertising that he was the "better choice" for Republicans. [15]

The Orlando Sentinel endorsed Dyer, noting that he "towers above the other high-profile candidates," and praising his "record for on behalf of this community during the past 10 years" in the legislature. The Sentinel criticized Barr for having a "limited" understanding of the city, Perez for "just mov[ing] into the city," and Sublette as not "forward thinking." [16]

Polling

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered		Sample
size [a] 		Margin
of error		Buddy
Dyer		Pete
Barr		Bill
Sublette		Tico
Perez		Derrick
Wallace		Wayne
Rich		Sharon
Leichering		Alex
Lamour		Undecided
Mason-Dixon Polling & Strategy [17] January 21–22, 2003625 (LV)± 4.0%22%16%14%10%5%3%2%1%27%

Results

Primary election results [18]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Nonpartisan Buddy Dyer 8,826 32.60%
Nonpartisan Pete Barr 6,033 22.28%
Nonpartisan Tico Perez4,31615.94%
Nonpartisan Bill Sublette3,58013.22%
Nonpartisan Derrick Wallace2,74610.14%
Nonpartisan Wayne Rich1,1774.35%
Nonpartisan Sharon Leichering2060.76%
Nonpartisan Alex Lamour1900.70%
Total votes27,074 100.00%

General election

Polling

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered		Sample
size [a] 		Margin
of error		Buddy
Dyer		Pete
Barr		Undecided
Mason-Dixon Polling & Strategy [19] February 12–13, 2003625 (LV)± 4.0%42%43%15%

Results

2003 Orlando mayoral special election results [18]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Nonpartisan Buddy Dyer 17,039 57.33%
Nonpartisan Pete Barr12,68142.67%
Total votes29,720 100.00%

Notes

  1. 1 2 Key:
    A – all adults
    RV – registered voters
    LV – likely voters
    V – unclear

References

  1. 1 2 Schlueb, Mark (January 1, 2003). "Orlando's mayoral race needs long ballot". Orlando Sentinel . Orlando, Florida. p. A1. Retrieved July 24, 2025.
  2. ↑ Schlueb, Mark (February 5, 2003). "Dyer, Barr emerge as finalists for mayor". Orlando Sentinel . Orlando, Florida. p. A1. Retrieved July 24, 2025.
  3. ↑ Kassab, Beth (February 26, 2003). "It's Dyer, by a landslide". Orlando Sentinel . Orlando, Florida. p. A-1. Retrieved July 23, 2025.
  4. ↑ "Dyer to run for Orlando mayor". Tallahassee Democrat . Tallahassee, Florida. December 31, 2002. p. 6B. Retrieved July 24, 2025.
  5. ↑ Mathers, Sandra (December 22, 2002). "Pete Barr Sr.: The former advertising CEO's priority would be putting Orlando "back on a business track."". Orlando Sentinel . Orlando, Florida. p. A9. Retrieved July 24, 2025.
  6. ↑ Damron, David (December 22, 2002). "Tico Perez: The lawyer, son of Cuban immigrants, said he is undaunted by an early mayoral race". Orlando Sentinel . Orlando, Florida. p. A9. Retrieved July 24, 2025.
  7. ↑ Harris, Melissa (December 22, 2002). "Bill Sublette: The former state representative said he would follow Glenda Hood's ideological path". Orlando Sentinel . Orlando, Florida. p. A9. Retrieved July 24, 2025.
  8. 1 2 Schlueb, Mark (December 31, 2002). "More leap into mayoral race". Orlando Sentinel . Orlando, Florida. p. B1. Retrieved July 24, 2025.
  9. ↑ Harris, Melissa (December 22, 2002). "Wayne Rich: The developer said he knows roads, has a vision and would take "prudent risks."". Orlando Sentinel . Orlando, Florida. p. A9. Retrieved July 24, 2025.
  10. ↑ Mathers, Sandra (December 28, 2002). "Ax the Tax' leader could enter Orlando mayoral fray". Orlando Sentinel . Orlando, Florida. p. B3. Retrieved July 24, 2025.
  11. ↑ Maxwell, Scott (December 31, 2002). "In and out". Orlando Sentinel . Orlando, Florida. p. B2. Retrieved July 24, 2025.
  12. 1 2 "Orlando mayoral vote won't be delayed". Miami Herald . Miami, Florida. January 1, 2003. p. 3B. Retrieved July 24, 2025.
  13. ↑ 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 24, 2025.
  14. ↑ Schlueb, Mark (January 29, 2003). "Heated moments emerge as 8 candidates debate". Orlando Sentinel . Orlando, Florida. p. A1, A6. Retrieved July 24, 2025.
  15. ↑ Kassab, Beth (January 30, 2003). "It's party time on road to City Hall". Orlando Sentinel . Orlando, Florida. p. B1. Retrieved July 24, 2025.
  16. ↑ "Dyer holds most promise". Orlando Sentinel . Orlando, Florida. February 4, 2003. p. A20. Retrieved July 24, 2025.
  17. ↑ Schlueb, Mark (January 26, 2003). "Voters can't make up minds who Orlando mayor will be". Orlando Sentinel . Orlando, Florida. p. A1. Retrieved July 24, 2025.
  18. 1 2 "Election Results 2000-2008" (PDF). Orlando City Clerk. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 15, 2015. Retrieved July 23, 2025.
  19. ↑ Silva, Mark (February 18, 2003). "Mayor's race is virtual tossup". Orlando Sentinel . Orlando, Florida. p. A1. Retrieved July 24, 2025.
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