Cynthia Harris

This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

Cynthia Harris

No Party Affiliation

Elections and appointments

Last election

November 5, 2024

Education

High school

Evans High School

Bachelor's

University of Central Florida, 2000

Personal

Birthplace

Mississippi

Religion

Christian: Baptist

Profession

Nonprofit executive director

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Personal website

Personal LinkedIn

Cynthia Harris (No Party Affiliation) ran for election for Orange County Supervisor of Elections in Florida. She was disqualified from the general election scheduled on November 5, 2024.

Harris completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Cynthia Harris was born in Mississippi. She earned a high school diploma from Evans High School and a bachelor's degree from the University of Central Florida in 2000. Her career experience includes working as a nonprofit executive director.

Elections

2024

See also: Municipal elections in Orange County, Florida (2024)

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Cynthia Harris (No Party Affiliation)

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Orange County Supervisor of Elections

Karen Castor Dentel won election outright against Sunshine Grund, Dan Helm, and Wes Hodge in the Democratic primary for Orange County Supervisor of Elections on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Karen Castor Dentel	40.2	190,202
		Sunshine Grund	21.6	102,125
		Dan Helm	19.6	92,445
		Wes Hodge	18.6	87,900

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 472,672
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Ricardo Negron-Almodovar (D)
• Lawanna Gelzer (D)

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Joseph Davis (R)

Although Florida holds closed primaries, if all candidates in a race are from the same party, Florida law opens the primary to all voters—regardless of their party registration—in what is called a universal primary. Originally, the supervisor of elections race had four Democratic candidates in the primary and one No Party Affiliation (NPA) candidate in the general election, meaning it was not a universal primary. A circuit court order removed Cynthia Harris, the NPA candidate, from the general election ballot after early voting in the primary had begun. This decision meant that the Democratic primary became a universal primary. Because voting in the county had already begun, votes cast in the August Democratic primary were not counted and the primary was moved to the November general election date.

Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Harris in this election.

2022

See also: Municipal elections in Orange County, Florida (2022)

General election

General election for Orange County Board of County Commissioners District 6

Michael Scott defeated Lawanna Gelzer in the general election for Orange County Board of County Commissioners District 6 on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Michael Scott (Nonpartisan)	51.0	17,058
		Lawanna Gelzer (Nonpartisan)	49.0	16,402

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 33,460
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for Orange County Board of County Commissioners District 6

The following candidates ran in the primary for Orange County Board of County Commissioners District 6 on August 23, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Lawanna Gelzer (Nonpartisan)	19.4	3,455
✔		Michael Scott (Nonpartisan)	17.7	3,150
		Cynthia Harris (Nonpartisan)	17.6	3,144
	Submit photo	Roberta Walton Johnson (Nonpartisan)	16.7	2,982
	Submit photo	Nikki Mims McGee (Nonpartisan)	16.3	2,908
	Submit photo	Rosemarie Diehl (Nonpartisan)	7.4	1,326
	Submit photo	Hedder Pierre-Joseph (Nonpartisan)	4.9	869

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 17,834
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Man-Fred Albert (Nonpartisan)
• Charles Law Jr. (Nonpartisan)

2017

See also: Municipal elections in Orlando, Florida (2017)

The city of Orlando, Florida, held elections for city council on December 5, 2017. A primary took place on November 7, 2017. The filing deadline for candidates who wished to run in this election was September 8, 2017. Three of seven council seats were up for election. The following candidates ran in the general election for the District 5 seat on the Orlando City Council.

Orlando City Council, District 5 General Election, 2017
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Regina Hill Incumbent	50.24%	1,146
Ericka Dunlap	24.73%	564
Sarah Abuobaida Elbadri	7.32%	167
Cynthia Harris	7.32%	167
Jibreel Ali	6.66%	152
Betty Gelzer	3.46%	79
Ondria James	0.26%	6
Total Votes		2,281
Source: Orange County Supervisor of Elections, "2017 City of Orlando General Election," accessed November 7, 2017

2014

See also: Orlando, Florida city council elections, 2014

Orlando held city council elections on April 8, 2014. Edward "Juan" Lynum, Regina Hill and Cynthia Rena Harris faced off in the general election. Because no candidate received more than 50 percent of the vote, the top two vote-getters - Lynum and Hill - met in a runoff election on May 6, which Hill won.

Orlando City Council, District 5, 2014
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Regina Hill	54.6%	1,174
Edward "Juan" Lynum	45.4%	978
Total Votes		2,152
Source: Orange County Elections, "2014 Orlando Runoff," May 8, 2014

Orlando City Council, District 5, 2014
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Edward "Juan" Lynum	39.2%	743
Regina Hill	37.3%	707
Cynthia Rena Harris	23.5%	446
Total Votes		1,896
Source: Orange County Elections, "Orlando General Official Summary," April 28, 2014

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Cynthia Harris completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Harris' responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

My mission is to uphold the values of equality and opportunity in the electoral process. I am dedicated to fostering an inclusive and accessible voting environment, where every individual has the right and the means to participate in shaping the future of our community. I carry over 30 years of Community Service, I'm committed to ensuring fair and accessible elections for all. Let's build a future where every voice is heard! Voting is Everything! Protect It!

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• Enhancing Voting Accessibility for Senior Voters

  Initiative: Placing Express Vote Equipment in Nursing Homes and Rehab Facilities Objective: Ensure voting is accessible to seniors who need extra assistance or have transportation challenges.

  Impact: Provide seniors with the necessary tools to vote independently and securely, reinforcing their integral role in the electoral process.
• Maintaining Accurate Voter Registrations Initiative: Outreach to Inactive Voters Objective: Prevent eligible voters from being disenfranchised due to outdated voter registration. Impact: Reduce the number of eligible voters turned away at the polls, enhancing the integrity of our electoral system.
• Promoting Civic Participation and Education Initiative: Civic Education Academies Objective: Increase understanding of the electoral process and civic responsibilities among youth and adults. Impact: Foster a more informed and engaged electorate, capable of making educated decisions that shape our community's future.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Goals and Vision:

• Equality in Voting: Ensure every eligible voter, regardless of their circumstances, has equal access to the voting process.
• Informed Electorate: Educate the community about the electoral process to empower them to participate fully and effectively.
• Engaged Community: Foster a sense of civic duty and participation across all demographics, promoting a vibrant and active democratic society.

By implementing these initiatives, I aim to create a more inclusive, informed, and participatory electoral environment for all members of our community. I am committed to leading these efforts with transparency, dedication, and a relentless pursuit of equality and opportunity in the voting process.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

My grandmothers were the most influential women in my life. They survived the Great Depression.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

NA

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

An elected official should have a solid understanding of the issues they will be dealing with, as well as the ability to comprehend and analyze complex information to make informed decisions. I am ready on day one to address the needs of the community because I understand and have experience of the internal and external duties of the Supervisor of Elections office.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

My ability of understanding and considering the perspectives and needs of others allows me to make decisions that benefit the entire community, especially the most vulnerable.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

Dedication to serving the public and commitment to their duties are crucial. This includes being willing to put in the necessary time and effort to fulfill the responsibilities of Supervisor of Elections effectively.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

My first job was Arby's. I was there for 3 months.

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

Financial information should be made readily available online, using user-friendly platforms that allow citizens to easily access and understand financial documents.
My office will promote an informed citizenry and encourages public engagement in financial decision-making processes.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

2022

Cynthia Harris did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.

2017

Harris' campaign themes included the following themes:

“	Small Business Advocate Cynthia understands that small businesses are the engines that drive our economy. From family-owned restaurants to high-tech startups, entrepreneurs and small-business owners are crucial elements of our communities and our economy. Cynthia has fought to remove barriers that stand in the way of small businesses, she has a proven track record of halting the Downtown Bar Ordinance that could have shut many businesses on day one. Cynthia has been a proponent of small business for most of her career, even outside of public service, It’s because she really believes in the entrepreneurial spirit. It’s accessing opportunities as entrepreneurs that is the barrier to a number of communities across District 5. Housing & Environmental Justice Cynthia knows that having affordable homes are not just places to live, but they are also the building blocks of our communities. Yet, some communities – usually low-income and communities of color – experience a daily assault on their health and environment. They are the hardest hit by air and water pollution from industrial factories, power plants, chemical waste and lead contamination from old pipes and paint. At the same time, communities of color lack access to parks, gardens and other recreational green space. The best way to end chronic homelessness is to provide housing, find affordable housing programs and workforce housing. It makes no sense to build a clinic only to turn the homeless back into the environment that are factors to their health conditions. Housing first is a priority for Cynthia Harris. Workforce Training & Job Re-Entry Communities of color also face the violence of economic deprivation. Education alone cannot prevent crime; we also need to help the District 5 residents who are currently unemployed. Orlando is home to 2 Career Source Centers-workforce development agencies that assist people in finding jobs and job-training programs. These Career Source Centers are currently helping the residents without jobs to re-enter the workforce. As your next City Commissioner, I will help lead the effort to connect District 5 residents who seek assistance at Career Source Centers to any legal help they need while they get back on their feet. This includes connecting them to the proper Legal Aid representatives for questions on redress for unlawful firings or advising individuals on unemployment benefits. Cynthia believes we don’t have to travel long distance for training that can’t benefit us right here in this District. Cynthia will also reach out to the business community to promote and expand upon teen internship and mentorship programs. We need work opportunity not empty promises.	”
—Cynthia Harris (2017)

See also

2024 Elections

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Candidate

Orange County Supervisor of Elections

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