ORLANDO, Fla. – Early voting is underway for the special election in Orlando City Council, District 5.
Seven candidates are vying for the seat that was vacated when Commissioner Regina Hill was arrested and suspended from office.
Recommended Videos
We asked each candidate the same questions. Below are the answers provided by Tiakeysha Ellison.
NOTE: We did not receive answers from every candidate.
[RELATED: Early voting underway for Orlando City Council District 5 special election. What you need to know]
TIAKEYSHA ELLISON
How long have you lived in District 5?
I’ve been living in District 5 most of my life. About 30 years to be exact.
What is your profession?
I’m a Serial Entrepreneur, Business Coach/Mentor and president of two nonprofits, Blues Truth and Cansus.
What made you jump into the race?
I’m running because I feel what I have to offer is needed within District 5. I have the ability to put a team together, allocate funds, make tough decisions, and help people out of financial hardship by providing them with the proper resources/knowledge and funding.
What do you see as District 5′s specific needs and how would you work on them?
I believe District 5 needs a handle on crime control, homelessness, funding for home improvement/tree trimming for the elderly, and sustainable housing as the commissioner, I would provide the elderly (50 years old+) with access to funding for home repair and tree trimming. I would provide mental health counseling, healthcare, and more funding to the homeless to get people healthy and off the streets. To help control the crime, I would be accessible to District 5, by hosting community forums, workshops, and outreach events to educate residents about the program’s goals, strategies, and resources available to support crime prevention efforts.
What else do you want to bring to District 5 and to the city of Orlando?
If elected, I want to bring an office for Blues Truth that provides free services of credit restoration, money management, entrepreneurial resources, financial counseling, business plan development, and hands-on skill shops (ages 14+). Where people can take a trade to become an electrician, plumber, beautician, carpenter, interior decorator, or etc. I want a transition program/policy put in place. So that people living in neighborhoods like the Jernigan Garden apartments, can transition into homeownership after living there for a certain timeframe (preferably 2+ years). So, others in need can move in, and those who have been there, can move out, into homeownership. They will have access to resources, and funding to help them with budgeting/saving, credit restoration, and money for downpayment and closing costs.
I want to provide financial assistance to cancer patients, effectively be alleviating a significant burden, allowing them to focus their energy and attention on battling the disease. Financial stress can be overwhelming, adding another layer of difficulty to an already challenging situation. With assistance, patients can worry less about medical bills, treatment costs, and daily expenses, enabling them to concentrate fully on their health and recovery.
Get today’s headlines in minutes with Your Florida Daily: