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Proposes a park impact fee, thus adding more parks in Orange County
Commissioner Linda Stewart first proposes a park impact fee to alleviate budget concerns of the Parks and Recreation department. The measure passes a short time afterward and has put $11 million aside dedicated solely to parks and community land. The fee is paid for only by developers and is not a tax. -
Toddler Swim Initiative
Announces "Toddler Swim" Initiative, which leads to Drowning Prevention Task Force -
Sierra Club Award of Excellence
Awarded for excellence in leadership on environmental issues -
Burnham Institute relocation to Orange County
Traveled to La Jolla, CA to encourage Burnham to relocate to Orange County, thus bringing jobs and other economic anchors to Innovation Way (the only elected official to do so) -
Women of Persuasion Tour
Embarks on Women of Persuasion Tour in Europe to encourage European business and higher wage jobs to Orange County (paid for out of her own pocket, like the rest of her economic development trips). -
Wins reelection by a landslide
Running against multiple candidates, incumbent Commissioner Stewart wins reelection to the Orange County Commission and carries well over 50% of the vote. -
Kids sneaker drive
To help needy children, Commissioner Linda Stewart held a sports-shoe collection drive, collecting over 400 pairs for youth who cannot afford sports sneakers. -
Led task force to regulate Big Box stores
Led task force to limit square footage of Big Box stores in local neighborhoods. The ordinance also regulates the distance between new big-box stores and neighborhoods, mandate a 24-hour security guard and a plan in place for dealing with shopping carts so that they don't end up scattered. -
Lobbies for red light camera law
Travels to Tallahassee, FL to make the first of many lobbying trips for red light cameras to be installed on Orange County streets -
LEED Certification on downtown venues
Demands that new downtown venues be built with LEED certification, or they will not be built (saving millions of dollars over the lifespan of the structures) -
FL Local Environmental Recourse Agencies award
Receives FLERA award for exemplary leadership on environmental issues -
Elected Chairwoman of MetroPlan Orlando
The local transportation board for Orange County, bringing in experience of mass transportation lobbying to the Sunshine state -
Anti-Idling campaign in school zones
Promotes anti-idling campaign in school zones to save on taxpayer costs of school buses, as well as decreasing the county's reliance on oil -
"Walks the walk" and buys a Prius
"Walks the walk" and buys a Prius -
Blue Ribbon Neighborhood introduced
Introduces the first Blue Ribbon Neighborhood (Stoneybrook)-a pilot program to help reduce water usage in Orange County neighborhoods -
Street racing bill petition drive
Initiates petition drive to collect support for a street racing bill (delivered over 7,000 signatures to Tallahassee) -
MARS created
Along with the help of mothers in the community, creates Mothers Against Racing on the Streets (MARS) -
SunRail passed
FL legislature passes SunRail, a project Commissioner Stewart has lobbied for since 2002 -
Economic Development trips to PR and Colombia
Embarks on economic development trips to Puerto Rico and Colombia in hopes of persuading manufacturing companies to relocate to Orange County -
High Speed Rail approved
Federal government announces secured funding for the country's first high speed rail corridor, from Orlando to Tampa, also a project Commissioner Stewart has lobbied for with federal officials -
FL legislature outlaws street racing
FL legislature passes street racing bill to enforce penalties and consequences on those who are committing the act -
Linda Stewart qualifies to run for Mayor
Commissioner Linda Stewart is officially qualified to be on the ballot for County Mayor, surpassing expected totals and collecting more than 8,000 individual signatures from voters (more than any other candidate)
