District 1 candidate announces endorsements

With Orange County School Board member Pam Gould announcing her candidacy, the race for the District 1 Orange County Commission seat is heating up.

Austin Arthur, who announced his candidacy in January, has secured endorsements from several West Orange-area community leaders, including Winter Garden Mayor John Rees; Winter Garden commissioners Colin Sharman and Lisa Bennett; Ocoee Mayor Rusty Johnson; Ocoee commissioners Richard Firstner and Scott Kennedy; Oakland commissioners Sal Ramos and Rick Polland; Orange County Citizens Safety Task Force member Chloe Brunson; Lake County Commissioner Josh Blake; Edgewood Mayor John Dowless; and Orange County School Board Member Alicia Farrant.

“Austin is a bright and vibrant community-minded leader who has been advocating for the things that make our area a wonderful place to live and spend time,” Rees said. “He is a businessman, a promoter of the family and a smart growth advocate. I know he will work hard for the families in District 1. He has my trust and my support.”

Arthur is a business owner, an employer and former firefighter/paramedic. He and his brother founded the Winter Garden-based Gymnastics USA, and also run Stars and Stripes Management Systems, a digital marketing and website design company. 

Austin serves on multiple boards and charities, including Winter Garden Architectural Review and Historic Preservation Board, West Orange Habitat for Humanity, Friends of Lake Apopka, Challenge 22 Veteran Suicide Awareness, Central Florida YMCA and the West Orange Chamber of Commerce.