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Orange County commissioner takes another swing at getting proposed changes to the voters

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — One Orange County commissioner said he wants to give voters more power to control their government.
 
Channel 9 reported Tuesday that Commissioner Fred Brummer is again calling for a special election to eliminate the tax collector's elected position, add two new districts, and set term limits for constitutional offices.
 
On Wednesday, Channel 9's Mario Boone asked Brummer why he won't give up after having his ideas shot down once already.
 
Just two weeks after an attempted major change to Orange County's charter was defeated, the outgoing commissioner behind the effort is trying to do it again.
 
"My four years is up in November and until then I think it's appropriate for a commissioner to go ahead and do what I think is right," said Brummer.
 
With only eight months left in Brummer's term, he's pushing for a new version of a controversial ballot amendment.
 
Part of the plan would abolish the elected tax collector's position and handing that position over to the county mayor.
 
"There's no reason to have a separately elected tax collector," said Brummer.
 
Brummer's plan also would impose term limits on constitutional offices like sheriff and property appraiser, a move staunchly opposed by Property Appraiser Rick Singh.
 
"Sadly it's an act of desperation by Mr. Brummer and his crew," said Singh.
 
And Brummer wants to add two new seats to the county commission.
 
"I'm amazed at how much it has caught fire," said Brummer.
 
The idea getting the most push-back from Orange County voters Boone spoke with is term limits.
 
"If the people think they're doing a good job and reelect them they should serve as long as they need to be," said resident Clive Williams.
 
"If the people want them in office I think that they should be in office," said resident Heather Davis
 
If Brummer's plan is approved by fellow commissioners it will go to voters in August.
 
The two new district seats Brummer is proposing are in response to previous efforts that failed to establish a Hispanic majority district.
 
Orange County Tax Collector Scott Randolph recently spent $35,000 lobbying against abolishing his office.
 
Boone contacted  Mayor Teresa Jacobs for their position on Brummer's proposal but has not received a response.

Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings said he sees no compelling reason to change how constitutional officers are elected or to impose term limits on them as non-legislative offices.