Seminole County lawmakers vote to give Winter Springs mayor more power - if voters agree

With a Winter Springs state representative as the lone dissenter, Seminole County’s state lawmakers have started the process to change Winter Springs’ government structure and consolidate power for the mayor – a move one lawmaker said is orchestrated by Jesse Phillips, who said he’s considering a run for mayor in 2026.

The Seminole County Legislative Delegation voted 4-1 to approve the Winter Springs Charter Amendment Local Bill to change Winter Springs’ form of government. If ultimately passed by the Florida Legislature and signed by the governor, it would change the Winter Springs mayor to a voting member of the City Commission. Currently, the mayor only votes to break a tie.

It would also eventually eliminate one city commissioner’s seat.

Rep. Rachel Plakon proposed the bill – saying that it came out of the issues identified by the Joint Legislative Audit Committee, which has investigated Winter Springs’ finances.

FL Rep. Rachel Plakon, left, introduced the bill. FL Rep. Doug Bankson, right, initially opposed it, but voted in favor after the bill was changed to allow a vote by residents. – Photo by Abe Aboraya

“The measure also includes a transition plan and provides for a referendum during the 2026 General Election, allowing voters to decide on the proposed changes,” Plakon wrote to members of the delegation in an email.

Instead of the bill making the changes to Winter Springs’ charter directly, as previous versions did, it instead requires a referendum vote in 2026 that would require a majority of Winter Springs voters to approve.

“Initially when I heard about this, I was opposed to the idea because it felt like an overreach,” said Rep. Doug Bankson. “We’re not there to tell the local communities what to do. As this has turned out, with this amendment, it does put this back to the voters. I think that’s the most important thing.”

Ultimately, representatives Bankson, Plakon, Susan Plasencia, and Sen. Jason Brodeur voted for the measure. Rep. David Smith – who lives in Winter Springs – was the lone no-vote.

Smith vows to fight bill in 2026 Legislature

The bill Plakon sent was created in the afternoon on Oct. 22 – less than 24 hours before the vote took place, according to the metadata on the document. The key difference between this version and the previous one reviewed by Oviedo Community News is the addition of a referendum component.

It would require a majority vote in the November 2026 election.

Rep. David Smith, who lives in Winter Springs, asked Plakon to withdraw the bill. Plakon declined.

After the meeting, Smith said the bill was sent to members “less than a week” before it was presented, had to be amended two days prior to the meeting and then completely rewritten the day before.

Smith said he doesn’t have a problem with changing the form of government, but that it should be done by the residents living in Winter Springs and not by lawmakers. Smith was unequivocal that he believes Jesse Phillips, who metadata shows was the author of the previous version, was the source of the bill.

“During the legislative session, I’ll make it my mission to kill this bill in the House,” Smith said. “The way this has been manipulated – If Jesse Phillips was the only name on the ballot, I’d leave it blank.”

Smith said the idea is to create an issue for Phillips to campaign on.

“He’s creating an issue to bring to the people to advance his run for Winter Springs mayor,” Smith said. “This is contrived. It’s made up in order to create an issue to campaign on against Mayor Kevin McCann.”

FL Rep. David Smith spoke against the bill, which would potentially substantially change the Winter Springs mayor’s power as the bill’s reported author is rumored to be preparing to run for mayor. – Photo by Abe Aboraya

McCann said the city of Winter Springs will discuss a possible charter review commission, made up of residents, at Monday’s meeting. He lamented that the process so far, reportedly started by his rumored election challenger, happened the way it did.

“You can’t take away that there’s now a gun to our head – for special interests,” McCann said. “That [charter review commission] is made up of residents. Let them do the deep dive.”

Check here to read the latest version of the bill, as submitted.

The key additions include, in unedited form:

Section 2. Referendum election.—

(1) A referendum on the adoption of section 1 of this act shall be held on November 3, 2026, the 2026 general election.

(2) The ballot title for the referendum question shall be

in substantially the following form:

AMENDING MUNCIPAL CHARTER TO PROVIDE FOR FIVE MEMBER CITY COMMISSION INCLUDING A VOTING MAYOR

(3) The referendum question shall be placed on the ballot in substantially the following form:

Shall Chapter 2026- , Laws of Florida, which amends the charter of the City of Winter Springs to provide for a five member city commission that includes the mayor as a voting member, revises the duties of the office of the mayor, makes conforming changes to the charter, and provides for transition, become effective?

( ) YES.

( ) NO.

(4) The referendum shall be conducted by the Supervisor of Elections of Seminiole County in accordance with the Florida Election Code.

Section 3. This act shall take effect only upon its approval by a majority vote of those qualified electors of the City of Winter Springs voting in a referendum to be held in conjunction with the 2026 general election, except that this section and section 2 shall take effect upon becoming a law.

Want to weigh in? Residents can contact Madison Wagner, District Aide for Rep. Doug Bankson, by email at Madison.Wagner@flhouse.gov or by phone at 407-598-8470.

Seminole County’s Legislative Delegation includes:

Sen. Jason Brodeur, Senate District 10

Rep. Rachel Plakon, House District 36

Rep. Susan Plasencia, House District 37

Rep. David Smith, House District 38

Rep. Doug Bankson, House District 39