ORLANDO, Fla. – Robert Stuart, a long-time Orlando City Commissioner, is hanging up his hat after representing neighborhoods like Rosemont, College Park, and Baldwin Park for the past two decades.
“Orlando has changed so much over the past 20 years, and I’ve had the honor of being in the middle of it and being part of it,” said Stuart, Orlando’s District 3 Commissioner since 2006.
District 3 is one of three Orlando City Council seats up for election in November.
“Citywide, the biggest change is probably SunRail and our venues in downtown. Those are economic generators that are going to impact us for the rest of our lives,” said Stuart.
[WATCH video below to see the latest plans to expand SunRail in Orlando]
While venues like the Performing Arts Center and the KIA Center did not exist when Stuart first took office, entire communities like Baldwin Park and Lake Nona were just beginning.
“In the same time that’s all that’s happened, I-4 gets done, so that becomes a driver in what’s happening,” said Stuart."
Another driver: identifying 12 business districts during the Great Recession, like Ivanhoe Village and the Mills 50 District, to create unique main streets in various neighborhoods and boost traffic to small businesses.
“The result has been, I will say, billions of dollars of other investments that’s happened in (those areas) with hospitals and schools and universities,” he said.
When his term officially ends in January 2026, several projects that Stuart has worked on will still be in progress, including a revamp of Edgewater Drive in College Park, upgrades at Dubsdread Golf Course and improvements at Lake Fairview Park.
[WATCH video below to learn about upgrades planned for 100-year-old Dubsdread Golf Course]
When asked what he is most proud of, Stuart replied, “I think what I’m most proud of is watching neighborhoods and communities get engaged and stay engaged.”
Having lived in this town for 70 years, he noted that College Park has changed significantly in the last 20 years, but the vibe and feel of the community have remained intact due to the commitment of its residents.
As for regrets, Stuart humorously stated, “I regret I’m not 10 years younger.” When asked if he would run again, he expressed doubt, saying, “When I leave office, I’ll be 72 and our community is changing. It needs to have somebody who’s younger.”
Already, about half a dozen people have filed to run for his seat. If you are interested in running for office, candidate qualifying is in September. You can find all the information you need to register to run for office on the city of Orlando website.
And if you are a resident of Orlando and want to make sure you can vote in the Nov. 4, 2025 election, you can go to the Orange County Supervisor of Elections website to register to vote or check that your registration is up to date.
You can also file a request if you want to vote by mail on that website.