Mayor Jerry Demings spoke to neighborhood leaders about county priorities, budget trade-offs, and civic engagement during the Orange County Community Conference.

Demings confirmed he has "formally entered the race" for governor of Florida but told attendees he will continue to fulfill his mayoral responsibilities through the end of his current term in December 2026. He framed his county agenda around infrastructure, housing affordability, human services and public safety.

On transportation, Demings said county leaders are seeking ways to address long-term congestion and noted that the county identified $100 million in additional funding spread over five years to support transportation and operational improvements (a $55 million allocation cited for public-works safety and capital projects and $45 million for LINKs transit operations and service frequency). He emphasized that mass transit would require much larger long-term capital and operating resources and any major system would take years to implement.

Demings also highlighted human-service investments. "We have set aside $56,000,000 in our budget to provide treatment for individuals who walk our streets," he said, describing expanded funds for homelessness and behavioral-health services and a local housing trust fund created to support affordable and workforce housing projects.

On state–local relations, he urged collaboration while warning that some state actions preempt local authority; he said one role of county leadership is to protect local capacity to respond to residents’ needs. Demings also endorsed exploring policy changes such as Medicaid expansion and systemic reforms to reduce cost pressures on families.

The mayor answered audience questions on tourism (the tourist development or "bed" tax), insurance costs, and citizen engagement programs, and repeatedly urged residents to participate in task forces or advisory groups so officials can craft more effective local responses.