Alan Ott
Editor’s note: Ott did a phone interview with Oviedo Community News.
Age: 45
Where they live: Oviedo
Where they work: Director of Platform Simulation for SoftIron
Prior work experience: Software Engineer for AcuSoft, Inc (May 2002 – July 2005), Lead Software Engineer for Applied Visual Technology Simulation (July 2005 – September 2009) and Proprietor and Software Developer for Signal 11 Software
Prior political experience: Ott is an incumbent for Oviedo City Council Group 3 and was elected in 2024.
Platform: Ott said he wants to ensure public safety is fully funded to attract quality police officers and firefighters. He wants to make sure the decisions made on the Council are benefiting the residing citizens.
Why they are running: Ott said he’s running for Oviedo City Council Group 3 because he wants to serve the community. His website lists the following issues that his campaign focuses on: fiscal responsibility, public safety, roads and traffic, water, development and rural boundaries.
Most recent campaign finance report: Ott contributed $6.49 to himself in 2025, according to Voter Focus. He said he did this to match the incurred charges on his bank statement after the election and ensure his finances were accurate.
Endorsements: None to report.
Candidate website: Alan Ott
Fun fact about the candidate: Ott said he recently started playing the upright bass (double bass) with his son, and communicates in Morse code.
If elected, what are the three most pressing problems you want to address, and what do you suggest to solve them?
The most pressing problem facing Winter Springs is the cost of living which is tied to taxes and utility costs and will involve the reduction in ad valorem taxes with Amendment 3. I propose 1) requiring the city to adopt a strict ZBB (zero-base budgeting) approach with every department justifying every cost, 2) tasking the city manager with taking a process improvement approach to streamlining city functions to reduce costs and improve efficiencies, 3) improving our business development practices to encourage better development in Winter Springs that both meets the needs of our citizens and increases tax revenue without compromising our infrastructure or creating environmental impact problems.
Top problem and your suggested solution:
Problem 2 and your suggested solution:
Problem 3 and your suggested solution:
For incumbents: Why do you deserve re-election to this race? For challengers and open seats: Why do you deserve to be elected in this race?
According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say housing affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue on a local level?
Will you vote YES or NO on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes, and explain your position. How would you replace lost revenue – fees and/or service reductions?
Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond?
What do you think is the biggest environmental issue the government should address in Seminole County?
Do you agree with the current federal and state governments’ approaches to immigration enforcement? Why or why not?
Readers shared concern about overdevelopment in the Greater Oviedo and Winter Springs community. We know that local municipalities must plan for density based on state population projections. How will you handle decisions about incoming development and redevelopment that balances the law, the needs of the city and the desires of your constituents?
Local governments continue to increase stormwater rates to pay for drainage projects. At the same time, the city and county commissioners continue to approve development, which eliminates natural drainage and filtration. If elected, what actual, concrete policy steps would you take to address flooding?
Residents often complain of high water bills, and water bills that are going up. Can you propose any relief for residents?
What steps would you take to ensure elected officials don’t personally profit from development?
Cities use the county’s full-day traffic counts to decide whether or not to widen roads instead of peak times, which can cause congestion as development comes in. What steps would you take to address traffic issues?
Some traffic lights only let two to four cars through before changing to yellow and red. Some left turn lanes are so short that cars see their green left turn lights, but cannot access the left lane. Traffic jams are getting longer on Slavia and some other roads all the time. How would you address these issues?
Do you support keeping the rural boundary as-is in Seminole County?
What steps would you propose to address student safety on e-bikes?
What are candidates willing to do to restore respect for the election process?
Winter Springs has the highest percentage of residential tax base. What solutions would you propose? And what ideas do you have to revitalize the Winter Springs Town Center?
As a city commissioner or mayor, will you pledge to accept the recommendations from the Charter Review Commission as presented, with no changes?
Author
Related Articles
Vote next week could help pull former Pappy’s Patch from rural boundary
Developer Chris Dorworth is ultimately looking to build 136 single-family homes in a move conservationists call a fight over the future of Seminole County’s rural boundary.
Winter Springs City Commission candidate Kyle Stewart: ‘I’m not a Christian nationalist’
Five-year-old podcast resurfaces where Stewart says ‘Amen’ after the host says non-Christians should be barred from office.
Winter Springs Commissioner Paul Diaz wants to see comparisons for county to provide police
In the wake of Amendment 3, Diaz says the big-ticket items – parks and police – should be on the table.