We’re building a community to connect Winter Springs residents and give them a place to speak up for their community. You can find me on Facebook keeping you informed of key stories that impact you and our community. We’ll never block or delete your comments because we want to hear from everyone. When the time is right, I will ask you for your vote in November to be your next City Commissioner.
We are going to make sureall local voices are heard… from your home to our Winter Springs City Hall!
The current Proposed SUPER WALMART Plans WILL NOT HAPPEN ON MY WATCH. This would require a CHANGE to the ZONING, which I am NOT interested in. Current Commissioner Cannon refuses to say NO to Super Walmart, calls 200 acres “vital for the future of economic development.”
Currently, the property is classified as the Greenway Interchange District (GID)
The intersection of State Road 417 and State Road 434 is known as the Greeneway Interchange District (GID) and lies within the Seminole Way corridor. The GID has the largest consolidation of vacant developable land within the City under one ownership.
Target Industry Uses appropriate for the GID include:
• Financial and Information Services
• Legal Services
• Architectural Services
• Publishers
• Associations
• CPA’s
• Headquarters
• Insurance
• Banks
• Telemarketing Bureaus
• Financial Transactions Processing
• Public Relations Agencies
• Credit Bureaus
• Advertising Agencies
• Consumer Lending
• Title Companies
• Computer Software and Design
• Life Sciences
• Hospitals and Medical Education
• Diagnostic Imaging Centers
• Medical Laboratories
• Agri-science Facilities
• Outpatient Facilities
• Blood and Organ Banks
• Research Laboratories
• Nursing Care Facilities
• Veterinary Services
• Pharmaceuticals Manufacturing and Research
• Digital Media
• Motion Picture and Video Production
• Simulation and Training
• Teleproduction
• Graphic Design
• Computer Hardware/Software
• Design and Development
• Animation
• Technical and Research Services
• General Management Consulting
• Marketing
• Interior Design
• Graphic Design Services
• Human Resources and Executive Search
• Environmental Engineering and Consulting
• Precision Instruments
• Civil Engineering Surveying and Mapping
• Telecommunications
• Industrial Design
• Lasers and Photonics
Other
• Long-Term Tourism
• Convention Center
• Hotels and Lodging
• International Trade
• Sports Associated Industries
• Other “basic” businesses and industries with high annual average wages
CH 9 INVESTIGATES the City of Winter Springs’ Taxpayer-funded misinformation campaign
Last night WFTV (Channel 9) investigated the “murky marketing campaign” the city of Winter Springs is using to target residents with misinformation about the Consent Order issued by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) for issues with our water system.
Once ranked as the #4 safest city in Florida, Winter Springs has dropped to 12 spots to #16, according to safewise.com. Our neighbors in Oviedo dropped one spot to #7.
With all of the fast development and multiple changes in leadership at the police department, we saw our local community ranking drop. In 2009, Kevin Brunelle was appointed as the Chief of Police and he held that role until 2019 when he retired. Since then, our city has had two different police chiefs the last three years including Chris Deisler and current police chief Matt Tracht. Deisler took over after Brunelle retired, only to unretire and be hired as the police chief in Woodland Park, Colorado earlier this year. Tracht took over following Deisler’s retirement.
The drop in our safest city ranking comes with an increase in development and most certainly the inconsistency in leadership from our police department under this City Commission and City Manager. Current Chief of Police Tracht recently spoke on the crime in Winter Springs citing the pandemic as a main factor “we saw a rise in our crime rates in 2020 with larcenies and assaults, most likely, probably due to the pandemic. People were at home, unemployed and didn’t know what to expect. They were probably doing things that they probably shouldn’t have been doing.”
While it is hard to argue that the pandemic had an impact on crime rates, we also believe the rapid development of our small community along with the inconsistency of having three different Police Chief’s since 2019.
I must say, our current Chief of Police Matt Tracht has made some huge progress in a short amount of time. I am very excited about the things he is doing and very grateful for his work.
I remain committed to collaboratively and enthusiastically representing this city with dignity and class to help Winter Springs return as one of the top #10 safest cities in Florida.
I strive to amplify solutions facing where we live by featuring residents like you, along with the change makers and thought leaders to support our fellow residents and people visiting and working in our area.
The results of the Straw Poll were announced and I am excited to announce that we won! ….As a first time candidate against a two term incumbent, this is a big deal!!!
THANK YOU Oviedo – Winter Springs Regional Chamber of Commerce!
United States Senator – Marco Rubio
Representative in Congress District 7 – Anthony Sabatini
Representative in Congress District 9 – Calvin Wimbush
Governor – Ron DeSantis
Attorney General – Ashley Moody
Chief Financial Officer – Jimmy Patronis
Commissioner of Agriculture – Wilton Simpson
State Senator District 10 – Jason Brodeur
State Representative District 36 – Rachel Plakon
State Representative District 35 – Fred Hawkins
State Representative District 37 – Susan Plasencia
State Representative District 38 – David Smith
State Representative District 39 – Charles Hart
Seminole County Commissioner District 2 – Jay Zembower
Seminole County Commissioner District 4 – Amy Lockhart
Circuit Court 18th Judicial Circuit Group 3 – Jessica Recksiedler
County Court Judge Group 5 – Ken Lester
County Court Judge Group 17 – Elizabeth Gibson
School Board Member District 1 – Deborah Bauer
School Board Member District 2 – Eric Monte
School Board Member District 5 – Agar Quinones-Aristone
Soil & Water Conservation District Supervisor Group 1 – Sarah Hall
Soil & Water Conservation District Supervisor Group 3 – Megan Betche
Soil & Water Conservation District Supervisor Group 4 – Beth Martin
City of Winter Springs Commissioner District 2 – Victoria Colangelo
Circuit Judge 9th Judicial Circuit Group 9 – Alison Kerestes
Circuit Judge 9th Judicial Circuit Group 14 – John Beamer
Circuit Judge 9th Judicial Circuit Group 44 – Aldo Bartolone
County Court Judge Group 2 – Andrew A. Bain
County Court Judge Group 8 – Elizabeth Josephine Starr
Orange County Mayor – Jerry L. Demings
ABOUT THE EVENT
The Seminole County/Orlando North Hob Nob, previously named East Side Regional Hob Nob, returned this year. The Seminole County/Orlando North Hob Nob is Central Florida’s Premier Event of the Political Season! The event took place on Thursday, June 30th from 5:00 pm – 8:30 pm at the Oviedo Mall.
This regional event included a two-county “Straw Poll” courtesy of the Seminole & Orange County Supervisors of Elections Offices, appearances from candidates running for federal, state and local offices, with delicious food and dessert from multiple vendors, and a variety of complimentary beverage selections. The event was well attended and it was a great time.
This consent order from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to the City of Winter Springs is from December 2021, this will show unauthorized discharges, failure to reporting, equipment not operating as designed, excessive orders and fecal coliform from the SR 434 Winter Springs West Wastewater Treatment Facility.
The City of Winter Springs has asked for an extension due to supply chain issues to address the consent order by December 31, 2022.
Multiple unauthorized discharges
Facility failed to report several abnormal events and/or malfunctions (unauthorized discharges, effluent exceedances, and treatment bypasses)
The 2019 and 2020 Annual Reuse Reports were not submitted in a timely manner
The bi-annual pathogen monitoring report was not submitted in a timely manner
The fecal coliform grab not collected as often as required for R-001
The following plant processes and/or equipment were not operating as designed
Excessive odors were noted beyond the boundaries of the Facility
June 5, 2022—A longtime Winter Springs resident who has worked in the environment for more than 15 years announced her candidacy this week for Winter Springs City Commissioner District 2.
Victoria Colangelo, the CEO of The Mitigation Banking Group, a company she founded in 2017, announced her plans to run in Winter Springs, Florida.
“I have lived in Winter Springs for 15 years, and prior to that lived in Oviedo for 10 years. I am a passionate advocate to preserve our water and wetlands and I started a small business which has facilitated taking over $50 million from developers’ deep pockets and making them invest it back into preserving our environment.”
Victoria is running against Kevin Cannon who she says has broken his campaign promises over and over by voting for dozens of special exemptions to allow development projects to move forward. “I have been working to enhance and restore our ecosystem, tirelessly striving to offset the damage done by politicians’ empty promises. I have a vision for what our hometown can be, and the experience to preserve what makes Winter Springs a great place to live.”
Victoria stated that she will self fund her campaign but that she is also seeking support from the residents and business leaders in the community ready for change.
She said she has thought about running for office for a few years, and with Winter Springs at a critical point in our history, she thought now would be a good time to serve the residents of Winter Springs, Florida.
The announcement comes as current District 2 Commissioner Kevin Cannon recently announced his intentions for re-election after already serving for 8 years. “Kevin Cannon is a smart man, and he has served our community for 8 years, but his communication skills and temperament are not ideal for our local community. It’s time for a change,” Colangelo was quoted as saying.
Colangelo, 39, said during her career she has worked alongside county and city employees, as well as outside agencies including the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and South Florida Water Management District.
“I’ve got the knowledge and the experience,” she said.
Her goal as commissioner would be to improve the quality of our waste and drinking water while also looking to make Winter Springs a more friendly government for all citizens and businesses who live and operate in the area. “I have watched and listened for the past 4 years as residents and our city commission have battled to find common ground. It became clear to me that my time to serve my local government was now.”
Victoria said when she is elected, she will remain CEO of her firm but will be able to dedicate herself full time to the job of City Commissioner. Colangelo is engaged to marry Bryan Bruce later this year and they have three daughters, Bella, Lily and Briella.
