A special election is on in Orlando’s District 5, where candidates are wasting no time lining up to fill the role left vacant following the indictment of incumbent Regina Hill.

The city council voted to kick off the process Monday morning, setting off a 43-day scramble until a May 21 election.

At stake is a term of about 20 months on the city council, representing the downtown area and neighborhoods west of I-4. By 10:30 a.m. Monday — 30 minutes after the calendar was set by Mayor Buddy Dyer and the city council — at least five candidates had publicly said they were running.

They include former State Rep. Travaris McCurdy; community activists Lawanna Gelzer, Miles Mulrain and Shaniqua Rose; and business owner Cameron Hope. Others may enter the race in the coming days.

Candidates can begin filing their initial paperwork for the seat at noon Monday, and qualifying for the May 21 election lasts just one day – until Tuesday, April 16. Candidates must qualify by petition or by payment by 5 p.m.

“I suspect you’ll see a lot of activity, I know there’s a lot of names floating around of people who are gonna run for it,” Dyer said. “I think it needs someone who is going to bring some stability to the seat … I think we’ll get some good candidates.”

If no candidate receives 50% plus one vote, the race heads to a runoff June 18.

The special election became necessary a week ago when Gov. Ron DeSantis suspended Hill from office following her felony indictment on seven charges related to elder abuse and fraud. If the case against Hill is resolved before her term ends, she could cut short the tenure of her successor and return to her seat.

After days of behind-the-scenes maneuvering — and some public head fakes — the race began to take shape Monday.

McCurdy hosted a news conference on the steps of City Hall, emerging as a likely front-runner with backing from several prominent community voices, including Bishop Derrick McRae and Onyx Magazine Publisher Rich Black.

As of late last week, Black himself intended to enter the race, but a family health emergency led him to reconsider and back McCurdy, he said.

McCurdy said he’ll be focused on building more affordable housing, improving infrastructure and investing in public safety.

“We don’t want anyone who needs to be trained … and I have all the confidence in myself that I’m that person,” McCurdy said.

Gelzer, who withdrew her candidacy as a Supervisor of Elections candidate to pursue the District 5 seat, has been a frequent candidate for city offices, and long an outspoken critic of Orlando’s decision making.

“The difference is…who has been here fighting for District 5 for so long?” she said. “You need to know how the budgets are running, how funding is going, who is getting funding, what special interest groups are benefiting. You even need to know the credit rating of the city — and I do.”

Mulrain, a community organizer who has led numerous protests against gun violence and other issues, said he’ll focus on trying to secure more financial assistance and opportunities for youth in the district, and involving the community in public safety.

“I think we need somebody … who is a civil servant first,” he said. “There’s a lot of other candidates at the table. I just want the best person to really shine and get the chance to win.”

Rose, who unsuccessfully ran for the seat in 2021 and who used to work for the city as a planner, said her understanding of local government makes her the best choice. She runs a nonprofit called Change for the Community, and said her top priorities are housing affordability and improving neighborhood safety.

“Property owners are facing high insurance, renters, it’s unaffordable to live anywhere,” she said. “There’s a lot of progress and change happening, but we need to be a team player.”

Hope owns First Hope Financial, a tax business operating in the district for a decade. He said he’d been considering a run for office when the seat opened, and said economic development would be a major focus for his campaign.

“I think the community trusts me. I’ve done business in the community,” he said. “I just think that I’m the best candidate to step up and fill the shoes.”

rygillespie@orlandosentinel.com