Candidate Profile: Mike Crabb

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If elected, what are the three most pressing problems you want to address, and what do you suggest to solve them?

1. Public Safety. Champion quality of life by ensuring public safety is a priority.

2. Infrastructure. Prioritize critical infrastructure projects, including water, wastewater, stormwater systems and transitioning homes near the Wekiva Basin off septic tanks. Also, target roadway capacity for widening key lanes and improving highly congested intersections.

3. Economic Affordability. Reduce wasteful spending and focus county tax dollars on essential duties: public safety and infrastructure. Create a business-friendly climate that will attract businesses with high-paying private sector jobs.

Why do you deserve to be elected in this race?

My entire adult life has been dedicated to protecting and serving the residents and visitors of Orange County. This is where I plan to retire, and I want Orange County to be as great in the future for everyone. This decision to run is not to start a political career; it’s about correcting some directions that I believe are off. I’m also running because I believe we need principled leadership and service-minded leaders.  A 39-year marriage to Pamela, who is the principal at a West Orange elementary school, and a 30-year career serve as powerful proxies for reliability, loyalty, and ethical stability — qualities I would bring to the Orange County Board of County Commission.

As the owner of The Shirt Shop USA in downtown Ocoee, I understand what it takes to balance a budget, meet a payroll and manage a team. I carry that same responsibility into my role at the Orange County Sheriff's Office, where I manage personnel and section budget. Balance sheets, leading teams through life-and-death decisions, and managing complex public expectations have prepared me to hit the ground running. I bring a robust blend of private-sector business sense and public-safety leadership needed to serve as a county commissioner.

According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue?

My solution starts with fiscal responsibility. First, we will audit the county’s bloated budget to eliminate waste and redirect tax dollars back to core priorities: public safety and infrastructure. By streamlining government and capturing the organic revenue growth of a booming local economy, we can actually lower the tax burden on everyday citizens. Finally, we will build a business-friendly climate that attracts high-paying, private-sector jobs so local families can thrive, not just survive.

Will you vote YES or NO on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position. How would you replace lost revenue – fees and/or service reductions?

I believe in a stable, conservative approach to property taxes and do not support disproportionately hiking commercial property taxes to offset residential gaps, as doing so harms job creation and small business growth. If residential property tax revenues drop, the county should prioritize balancing its bloated budget through rigorous audits, eliminating internal inefficiencies and prioritizing public safety and infrastructure.

Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond?

The recently signed Senate Bill 484 addresses the core of this issue. By prohibiting utility companies from shifting the high electricity and infrastructure costs of data centers onto residential and small business customers, this legislation safeguards everyday Floridians from unfair rate hikes. It ensures that large-scale energy consumers pay their fair share, effectively protecting local families and small businesses.

What do you think is the biggest environmental issue your government should address in Florida?

In Orange County, our most urgent priority must be funding critical infrastructure projects, specifically our water, wastewater, and stormwater systems. For District 2 in particular, a vital environmental and public health necessity is developing a viable plan to transition homes near the Wekiva Basin off septic tanks and onto centralized sewer systems.

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