Orange County Clerk of Courts Race Focuses on Candidate Eligibility

Former Orange County Property Appraiser Rick Singh filed a lawsuit demanding the removal of Maribel Gómez Cordero from the clerk of courts ballot, arguing that Florida’s resign‑to‑run law required her to vacate her county‑commission seat before seeking the office. Facing the legal challenge, Gómez Cordero withdrew from the race, ending the dispute and concluding her eight‑year tenure on the county commission.

The race also centers on Roberta Walton Johnson, who disclosed a decades‑old federal fraud conviction that was later cleared by a clemency grant. Sheriff candidate Bill Moore contended that the conviction could impede her ability to access criminal‑justice information and obtain the mandatory surety bond required of clerks, raising questions about whether she can fully perform the duties of the constitutional office. No formal legal determination has yet been issued.

Both issues highlight how legal qualification, rather than policy positions, has become a key factor for voters in the Orange County clerk of courts election.