Two Democrats — a longtime Orange County Commissioner and a controversial ex-official seeking to convince voters he deserves a second shot at public office — are running in the open race for Orange County Clerk of Courts.
Term-limited Commissioner Maribel Gomez Cordero and former Orange County Property Appraiser Rick Singh have both qualified for the race. The third candidate, Independent Terrell Thomas, has not officially qualified yet.
Singh has raised about $106,000 — including writing himself a $25,000 check — for the fundraising period covering April and May as he looks to restart his political career
“This election is not about relitigating political narratives from the past,” Singh said in a statement. “It is about who is best prepared to lead the Clerk of Court’s Office on day one. I believe my experience, accomplishments, and proven leadership make me uniquely qualified to do so.”
So far, Thomas self-funded his campaign with $100 during the same filing period. Thomas did not respond to a request for comment Tuesday.
Gomez Cordero has not started fundraising yet.
Singh said he was encouraged by his early fundraising numbers and said he believes he has broad support for his campaign.
“I am running for Orange County Clerk of Court because I believe the citizens of Orange County deserve experienced, proven leadership in an office responsible for safeguarding public records, managing taxpayer resources, and ensuring access to justice,” Singh said in a statement. “This is not an entry-level position. It requires someone with a demonstrated record of managing complex government operations, implementing technology, maintaining public trust, and delivering measurable results.”
The Clerk of Courts race is open since incumbent Tiffany Moore Russell is not seeking re-election as she runs for Orange County Mayor.
The Clerk of Courts is paid $217,979 a year.
Singh was previously the Orange County Property Appraiser and was known for fighting back against Disney when the The Mouse kept suing to lower its property tax assessments.
“We hold their feet to the fire,” Singh once said, arguing he was making sure Disney pays its fair share.
But Singh was also in the headlines for other reasons during his tenure.
Former employees sued and accused Singh of bringing strippers into the office and then asking employees to cover it up, spending taxpayer money on trips and giving high or low property appraisals depending on who was in his favor, the Orlando Sentinel reported.
At the time, Singh denied the allegations, telling the Sentinel, “It’s a shakedown by two employees who essentially tried to extort money from me.”
Voters had enough and Singh lost his re-election bid in the 2020 Democratic Primary to Amy Mercado who has been the Property Appraiser since.
The Sentinel reported that Singh promised exit packages totaling $300,000 to his three top advisors after he lost the election. It later became a legal saga that Mercado inherited when she took office and filed a lawsuit
“Throughout my public career, I was often willing to challenge powerful interests, question established practices, and make decisions based on what I believed was right for taxpayers,” Singh said in a statement Tuesday. “The reality is that after years of public service, every elected official accumulates critics, political opponents, and headlines. What matters is the record. My record includes nationally recognized achievements, significant technological advancements, improved customer service, strong financial stewardship, and a commitment to fairness and transparency.”
Gomez Cordero was first elected to the Orange County Board of Commissioners in 2018. When she won, she had been a mental-health family therapist who worked 15 years with the state Department of Children & Families.
She ran on a platform of stopping urban sprawl, protecting the environment and improving transportation, according to an Orlando Sentinel profile.
Gomez Cordero, who is Puerto Rican, urged the county provide briefings in Spanish to better inform the public during the COVID-19 pandemic. Eventually, the county began holding bilingual press conferences.
