By Brian McBride
Associate Editor

According to Osceola County primary election results Tuesday, a current Kissimmee city commissioner easily won a second term on seat 4, while a political newcomer and a former municipal leader will face off for seat 2 in the Nov. 2 general election.

Incumbent Commissioner Cheryl Grieb beat challenger Jorge Miranda, a tax preparer, who has lost twice before, for the seat 4 spot. Grieb garnered 2,166 votes to Miranda’s 1,037, or 67.6 percent of the vote.

“I am honored,” Grieb said after the win.

Although she easily defeated Miranda, she said she never took the election for granted, working hard to send out mailers, putting up political signs and taking time to wave to the public.

“I think that the key was getting the information out to the voters about what I had accomplished in the city,” she said.

During the campaigning period before the primary, candidates were asked by the News-Gazette about what they believed were the most pressing issues that needed to be addressed. Grieb, owner of Olde Kissimmee Realty, cited creating jobs, the U.S. Highway 192/Vine Street corridor redevelopment, city budget constraints due to falling revenues and abandoned residential and commercial properties as city challenges.

The seat 4 race was decided Tuesday because there were only two people running.

In the seat 2 race that had six candidates, former city commissioner Jeanne Van Meter and newcomer Wanda Rentas, a South Florida Water Management District business management analyst, received the most votes to compete in a Nov. 2 run-off election. Van Meter topped the election with 869 votes, or 26.6 percent. Rentas was second with 636 votes or 19.5 percent.

In that race, a candidate had to win at least 51 percent of the vote to be declared the sole winner.

“I wish it had been 51 (percent), but I'll take anything that lets me go forward,” Van Meter said.

Rentas said she knocked on about 3,000 doors trying to make her herself known during the campaign and that she did well in the race because she was a fresh face compared to others that have previously run.

“I think it's that they (voters) want something new for the city and I think I can provide that,” Rentas said.

Van Meter, however, said she's heard the word on the street that people didn't want a commissioner who needed on-the-job training.

“I think people know me and understand that I understand what the city needs,” she said.

According to the election ballot, Jim Fisher finished third with 583 votes (17.9 percent); Kip Smith was fourth with 513 votes (15.7 percent); followed by Carlos Irizarry with 358 votes (11 percent) and John Cortes with 308 votes (9.4 percent).

Rentas had noted that her campaign revolved around fiscal responsibility, economic development, public safety and government unity. While Van Meter said some of the more pertinent city issues were: the budgetary city shortfall and how it might affect the quality of service to residents; bringing more jobs for residents; supporting the redevelopment of the U.S. Highway 192 corridor to fill empty storefronts; and finishing the lakefront park.

There was a total of 3,267 votes in the seat 2 race and 3,203 in seat 4.

Term limits in the Kissimmee elections only allow a city commissioner to serve two consecutive terms.

All of the city charter changes on the ballot passed as well, including adding “In God We Trust” to the city logo.