Tiffany Moore Russell
By Reggie Connell, Managing Editor
In Summary:
Orange County mayoral candidate Tiffany Moore Russell says her background as both a policymaker and executive has prepared her to lead one of Florida's fastest-growing counties. She argues Orange County must focus on affordability, ensure infrastructure keeps pace with development, strengthen partnerships with municipalities, and improve government efficiency before asking taxpayers for more money. Russell also outlines her approach to housing, transportation, homelessness, economic development, and bipartisan local governance.
*****
For two decades, Tiffany Moore Russell has occupied a front-row seat in Orange County government — first helping write policy from the County Commission dais, then managing the records, finances, and nearly 400 employees of the Clerk of Courts office.
Related: Orange County Clerk offers year-round help for residents with suspended driver’s licenses.
Now, she believes those experiences have prepared her for Orange County's highest elected office.
Russell, who is seeking to succeed Mayor Jerry Demings as Orange County Mayor, says the county is entering a period of difficult decisions involving affordability, growth, transportation, and public investment. She believes the next mayor must understand both how county government creates policy and how a large public organization is managed.
For more information on Tiffany Moore Russell's campaign, go here.
"I understand county process, county governance, the policy side of making decisions," Russell said. "And then, being the clerk, I have now been an executive in a constitutional office."
Although she considered running for mayor years ago, Russell said family responsibilities kept her from pursuing the office sooner.
"When I was on the County Commission, I wanted to be mayor then, but I had small kids," she said. "I wanted to make sure I had enough time for my family."
With her children now older, she believes the timing is right.
"We're faced with some very pivotal decisions to make as a community," Russell said. "I would like to be in that position to have those conversations."
Russell represented District 6 on the Orange County Commission from 2006 to 2014, participating in decisions involving SunRail, tourism development taxes, and economic development projects that helped establish Orlando's Medical City. She says serving on the commission gave her firsthand experience building consensus among elected officials and understanding how county decisions affect residents across all six districts.
Serving as clerk of courts, she said, provided a different perspective.
Instead of voting on policy, she became responsible for managing employees, balancing budgets, and modernizing a constitutional office while serving as Orange County's chief financial officer, county auditor, and custodian of public records.
"I bring the experience of managing complex budgets, working with the Legislature when it comes to funding local government, and also being an executive and managing people," she said.
While the mayor oversees an organization much larger than the clerk's office, Russell believes the principles are the same.
"Although it is bigger," she said, "I think it's those same principles that help guide you, moving from what was considered a small government agency to a bigger government agency."
Affordability at the forefront
Russell identifies affordability as the single biggest challenge facing Orange County residents.
She acknowledges the county cannot control inflation, gasoline prices, or homeowners' insurance premiums. But she believes local government has significant influence over wages, housing, transportation, and economic development.
"They cannot afford to live here in the same county they work," Russell said.
Rather than relying on one solution, she says the county needs to attract more high-paying employers while expanding housing opportunities and investing in transportation that connects residents to jobs.
"We have to diversify our economy," she said. "We have to make sure we're bringing in industries that provide wages that allow people to live where they work."
Her views on affordability have also been shaped by managing the clerk's office. When she became a clerk, the starting salary was approximately $12 per hour. Today, it is $17.25.
"I was very aware I had to respond to the demand of the office and make sure I could address employee wages," Russell said.
Because the clerk's office relies primarily on court fees, fines, and legislative appropriations rather than property taxes, she said the raises would require years of planning and additional support from Tallahassee.
"For me, those are major accomplishments because it shows that I took care of my people, but also I thought about the voters as well."
Growth requires infrastructure
Russell supports continued growth but believes Orange County has too often allowed infrastructure to trail behind development. She says one of the biggest misconceptions residents have is that controversial developments are newly approved when, in reality, many received approval years before construction began.
"The first thing is being very honest with citizens about what's already been approved," she said.
Russell points to Horizon West, where she now lives, as an example. She voted on portions of the development while serving on the County Commission, but did not move there until 2020, six years after leaving office. Looking ahead, she says every major development should be evaluated not only for housing demand but also for its effect on roads, drainage, schools, parks, emergency services, and the environment.
"We have to make sure infrastructure comes before the investment," Russell said, "and that those who develop pay their fair share."
Russell says Orange County also needs greater flexibility to determine how it grows.
She hopes state lawmakers revisit SB 180. According to Russell, the legislation places unnecessary restrictions on local governments that understand the needs of their own communities better than officials in Tallahassee.
"We have three different types of Floridas," she said. "You have the Panhandle, you have Central Florida, you have South Florida, and we're all unique in our own way. That's why home rule is so important. We should be able to design what we want locally."
Working with Apopka
Russell said Orange County should strengthen its partnership with the City of Apopka, particularly on infrastructure, economic development, and downtown redevelopment. But rather than arriving with predetermined solutions, she said county leaders should begin by asking city officials what obstacles exist and where the county can help.
"People want to be seen as partners," she said.
At the same time, she believes the county should continue investing in northwest Orange County regardless of where municipal boundaries are drawn. She questioned why the area still lacks a public swimming pool and said that parks and recreational facilities should continue to evolve to reflect changing interests while maintaining traditional youth sports.
"Sports, baseball, football, basketball — all those things keep our kids busy," she said. "It keeps them engaged. It keeps them out of trouble."
Russell also called for a broader regional strategy to address homelessness, saying no single city or county can solve the issue alone.
"This is a crisis for all of us to address," she said.
She believes Orange County should work with municipalities, neighboring counties, and nonprofit organizations to create a coordinated approach instead of isolated local programs. She also favors working with private businesses and community organizations to improve access to fresh food in neighborhoods considered food deserts, rather than having the government operate grocery stores itself.
Property taxes and government spending
Russell opposes the proposed constitutional amendment that would significantly expand Florida's homestead property tax exemption, saying the proposal focuses on potential savings without fully explaining the effect on local governments.
"It's always reckless to dangle in front of voters, 'Hey, we're going to save you $200 or $1,000,' without explaining on the other side what the impact is," she said. "For me personally, my insurance is higher than my property taxes," Russell said.
If the amendment passes, Russell said her first step would be asking every county department to evaluate its budget and identify efficiencies before considering additional taxes or fees.
"I'm certain there are opportunities to find efficiencies," she said.
She said department directors should identify which programs remain essential, which could be modified, and whether long-standing initiatives are still meeting their original purpose.
Measuring success
Among the accomplishments Russell points to as Clerk of the Court is the creation of the Lydia Gardner Self-Help Center, which assists residents who cannot afford private attorneys but do not qualify for free legal aid.
The center helps residents complete legal forms, obtain notary services, and consult with attorneys at reduced cost while relieving clerk employees of situations where they are prohibited from offering legal advice. Russell said the idea grew from her own experience practicing law.
"There are many people who don't know how to navigate the justice system," she said. "It can be overwhelming."
Originally opened in downtown Orlando, the program has expanded to branch locations and virtual services, including assistance available in Apopka. For Russell, the center reflects the type of leadership she hopes to bring to the mayor's office—identifying problems, finding practical solutions, and making government easier for residents to navigate.
She also thinks local government functions best when elected officials spend less time focusing on partisan politics and more time solving community problems. Russell recalled working closely with former District 2 Commissioner Fred Brummer despite their differing political philosophies, collaborating on initiatives ranging from Pine Hills to recreational facilities while jointly seeking federal support from members of both political parties.
"State politics gets very partisan," she said. "But when it comes to local government, it's about trash pickup, it's about neighborhoods, cleanliness, and programs. It gets less about party and more about people."
Russell said that approach has shaped nearly two decades of public service and is the philosophy she would bring to the mayor's office if elected.
"I think I can work with anybody," she said. "I assume positive intent with everything."
