SANFORD, Fla. — Sanford has a new mayor, and Christina Hollerbach is bringing a fresh perspective to City Hall. The former CEO of Hollerbach’s German Restaurant won the race to lead Seminole County’s largest city, capping off a journey that started when she was 14 years old washing dishes in her family’s business. While her rise from the bottom up is a great story, Hollerbach is focused on fixing the city’s biggest headaches: failing sewers, water main breaks, and rapid growth.
In an exclusive interview with Channel 9 Eyewitness News, Hollerbach said her time in hospitality taught her how to manage complex systems under pressure. She believes you can’t lead effectively unless you understand every part of the operation, from the prep cook to the server. Now, she plans to apply that same hands-on knowledge to running a city of nearly 70,000 people.
The infrastructure issues are personal for Hollerbach. Her own downtown restaurant has flooded multiple times due to the city’s aging pipes.
She says she won’t wait until she’s officially sworn in late December or early January to start working. Instead, she plans to act as a watchdog immediately, pushing city staff to speed up repairs and hold contractors accountable.
To keep everyone in the loop, she promised to launch an online dashboard so residents can track progress on these projects without having to sit through hours of boring commission meetings.
Hollerbach also wants to slow down development, arguing that Sanford is growing faster than its infrastructure can handle.
But the toughest question remains: can a downtown business owner truly represent the whole city?
When asked about her close ties to the historic district, Hollerbach admitted she loves downtown but insisted her vision is much bigger. She pointed out that many neighborhoods have been neglected for years and promised to focus on equity, ensuring those communities get the same love and resources as the city center.
As she prepares to take office, Hollerbach promised to stay authentic and approachable. She knows she won’t make everyone happy, but she vowed to listen to opposing views and make collaborative choices.
For Sanford residents, the next four years will be all about seeing if these promises turn into cleaner water, fewer floods, and a city that works for everyone.
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