Summersill announces run for Orange County Commission District 2 seat

Orange County Commission/District 2 candidate Marsha Summersill.

Marsha Summersill, an Apopka native, attorney, and longtime children’s advocate, has filed to run for the Orange County Commission District 2 seat.

Christine Moore is the current District 2 commissioner, but term limits exclude her from running for re-election. Moore is currently running for mayor of Apopka.

In her news release, Summersill said she will focus her campaign on expanding affordable housing, improving transportation, and protecting the county’s natural resources as Central Florida continues to experience rapid growth.

“Orange County is growing faster than almost anywhere in the country. Families are being priced out of their neighborhoods, our roads and transit systems can’t keep up, and our environment is under constant pressure from rapid development,” said Summersill. “I’ve spent my entire career protecting children and supporting families in crisis, and I know how much is at stake for working families in our community. On the County Commission, you can count on me to fight for  affordable housing, safer and more reliable transportation, and the clean water and green spaces  that make Orange County special.” 

Related: Apopka voters to decide on charter amendments, including the mayor’s role and term limits.

Summersill has worked in child protection and family law for nearly two decades, including roles as a child abuse investigator, forensic interviewer, and attorney with Children’s Legal Services. She now practices family law at the Orlando Law Group and serves on several county boards, including the Orange County Research and Development Authority and the Citizen Corps Council. She said her decision to run is rooted in personal experience, citing the loss of her brother due to gaps in Florida’s healthcare system as a motivating factor.

This marks Summersill’s second run for public office. In 2024, she challenged incumbent Republican Rep. Doug Bankson in the Florida House District 39 general election but came up short. Bankson edged Summersill with 46,121 votes (52.56%), while she received 41,623 (47.44%).

The District 2 seat represents much of northwest Orange County, including Apopka, Ocoee, and Pine Hills.