A new name has entered the list of local officials possibly running for office this year -- Orlando Police Chief John Mina.

  • John Mina files to run for Orange County sheriff in 2020
  • If Sheriff Demings continues campaign for mayor, he will have to resign
  • That puts Mina in position for a special election

Mina's name appeared as a candidate for Sheriff on the Orange County Supervisor of Elections website as a candidate in the 2020 countywide races, but that race could move to 2018.

Right now, current Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings is campaigning in the race for Orange County mayor. State law says that an elected official who's running for another office has to resign no later than 10 days before the qualifying period begins for that election, and in this case, that would be June 8.

If Sheriff Demings does indeed resign to run for mayor, the Supervisor of Elections would then hold a special election to fill the vacancy for the remainder of the term, in this case, 2020. 

Seminole County Supervisor of Elections Michael Ertel tells Spectrum News 13 that there would be plenty of time for Orange County to make the necessary adjustments to include a race for sheriff in the August election, and that filed candidates, like Mina, would just have to submit paperwork to move his election date from 2020 to 2018.

Mina became police chief in February 2014. The position of Orlando Police Chief is an appointed position, not an elected position, so Mina would not have to resign to run for that office.

Mina is set to make an announcement Thursday at 4 p.m. at the Orange County Courthouse.

The sheriff's race is a partisan one. Mina has filed to run as a "No Party Affiliation" candidate.