Val Demings has reignited her outreach to potential supporters for an Orange County mayoral run in recent weeks.
And the former Orlando police chief says she will make a final call on whether to take on incumbent Mayor Teresa Jacobs sometime within the next couple months.
That’s not major news, since Demings has been pondering a run for months. But it does quell speculation that Demings’ recent quiet spell signaled she was walking away from a Jacobs’ ballot challenge in August 2014.
Instead, Demings has met with stalwart Democrats and disaffected Republicans, and political watchers have told her it could take $800,000 to $2 million to unseat Jacobs.
“We’re looking at that path to victory,” Demings said. “It’s a race I’d have to work hard to win. But it’s doable.”
Demings said she’s still in weekly conversations with the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee about a potential run against U.S. Rep. Dan Webster, R-Winter Garden, whom she lost to in 2012. And there’s a chance she opts to work as a concerned citizen for now.
“I want to be where I can do the greatest good,” Demings said.
If Demings opts to sit it out, there are no other notable names laying in wait. Only three largely unknown write-ins have signaled an interest in taking on Jacobs, so the mayor could cruise back into office if Demings balks.
Jacobs has raised $328,231, so far, and spent only $22,576.
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