Michael Cantone
Prone to hyperbole (“I'll begin on day one to dismantle City Hall.”), this 28-year-old rabble rouser is a true progressive (see profile) who thinks the city hasn't done enough for the LGBT community. Orlando Sentinel political columnist Scott Maxwell believes Cantone's appeal is narrow because incumbent Mayor Buddy Dyer is a tested Democrat. Cantone believes he has a better pulse on the city. He hopes to prove Maxwell wrong on Election Day.
Phil Diamond
This soft-spoken sitting commissioner has represented District One for the past 10 years. An accountant and tax attorney, he has established a reputation as a fiscally conservative balance sheet guy. Diamond has repeatedly criticized Mayor Dyer for tone deaf big spending that favors his friends and supporters. Indeed, he has been the lone voice of dissent on the City Council for many of Dyer's big projects. Diamond, a 52-year-old Democrat, has been a consistent supporter of the LGBT community, voting for DP benefits and the DP Registry, and appearing consistently at Pride and other community events.
Buddy Dyer
The incumbent won election 10 years ago when Mayor Glenda Hood left office mid-term to become Florida's Secretary of State. He has been re-elected twice, the last time with 61% of the vote. He's been criticized for his handling of Occupy protestors and Food Not Bombs activists, and for saddling the city with future financial obligations associated with big initiatives like SunRail, Amway Arena and the Dr. Phillips Performing Arts Center. But Dyer insists we can responsibly afford them, and that these projects will define a future great city. And he proudly points out that he eliminated the city's budget deficit during tough times, and that both crime and taxes are down. Dyer recently received Equality Florida's “Voice for Equality” award for leadership on LGBT issues.
Ken Mulvaney
This is the third run at mayor for this commercial real estate professional. The only Republican in this nonpartisan race, Mulvaney is a colorful Irish immigrant with a thick brogue and a feisty disrespect for the incumbent. He rails that Dyer is a big spender that favors cohorts over community. “Not enough money is spent on the needs of the people who live in Orlando,” Mulvaney said during a debate. He promises to review the city's $350 million budget “line by line.” Mulvaney has engaged in outreach to the LGBT community, but did not respond to questions regarding his stance on LGBT issues by press time.
