August 14, 2026 • 6 mins
Meet the candidate interview with Stephanie Murphy
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hi.
Speaker 2 (00:00):
This Judy Copierra and I am the market president here
in Central Florida and this is Meet the Candidates Today.
We have the opportunity to speak with Stephanie Murphy, who
was running for Orange County Mayor.
Speaker 1 (00:12):
Welcome Stephanie, Thank you so much for having me, so
happy to be here with you.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
Tell us just a little bit about yourself.
Speaker 1 (00:18):
Well, I'm Stephanie Murphy and I'm running for Orange County Mayor.
I am raising two kids here in Orange County, and
I have been someone who's worked in business in national security,
and then I served and represented this community in Congress
for six years and just really love this community and
(00:39):
I know that it can be an incredible place to
raise a family. We just need leadership to help us
navigate the incredible growth that we're experiencing.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
So what prompted you to run for this office?
Speaker 1 (00:50):
Well, as I mentioned, I'm raising kids in this community
and I see that we're growing fast. But growth doesn't
always manifest itself into opportunity unity for everybody. Sometimes it
can create pressures on working families here. You know, housing
becoming more unaffordable, traffic that's increasing, jobs that aren't paying
as well, and I really want to be able to
(01:13):
serve this community and create opportunities for this generation in
the next to make this a not only a world
class destination, but a world class community for the residents
who live here.
Speaker 2 (01:23):
So what is experienced skills or expertise do you feel
like you will bring to county mayor position.
Speaker 1 (01:30):
Well, the county mayor is the executive over a nearly
nine billion dollar organization with over eight thousand employees and
one point six million customers or residents. So that requires
being both an executive and a legislator because they sit
over the board of County Commissioners. I'm somebody who've has
had experience as an executive in business, somebody who's worked
(01:55):
in national security in the world's largest bureaucracy, who's also
been a legislator in Congress, and I bring together executive,
legislative and leadership skills to lead this community.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
We talked about this a little bit, but what do
you feel is the most pressing issue facing Orange County?
Speaker 1 (02:14):
On this campaign trail, I have been speaking to people
all across the county and I hear repeatedly the need
for more attainable housing, less congestion, and better paying jobs.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
And how would you address those concerns if you're elected,
what's the plan.
Speaker 1 (02:30):
If I have the honor of being the mayor of
Orange County, I would immediately go to ensuring that we
are bringing more housing that is attainable for working families
onto the market. We have an incredible demand and the
supplies and keeping pace, and so the prices are going
up and people who work here can no longer afford
to live here, and I think that's wrong. We need
(02:51):
to address that in the county can make some changes
on the congestion. We have talked about our infrastructure issues,
our transportation issues for decades. We need to really set
out a plan and pull down state dollars and federal
dollars to be able to address transportation issues. I know
a little bit of how to get to the money
(03:12):
at the federal and the state to make sure that
we make the necessary investments so that we keep pace
with growth. And then finally on the well paying jobs front.
You know, I have spent my career working with CEOs
and investors and heads of states and governors, and I
can bring those relationships to bear to recruit companies and
(03:33):
businesses to come here. And I want to invest in
the workforce through a program I'm calling Orange County Promise,
which guarantees every high school student who graduates the opportunity
to get a trade a Technical Owners Associates degree. This
is an investment we can't afford not to make.
Speaker 2 (03:51):
Yeah, that's a different topic than every child needs to
go to college.
Speaker 1 (03:55):
Right.
Speaker 2 (03:55):
It's college, Yes, it's right.
Speaker 1 (03:57):
College is a pathway, but it's not only path right,
and we need to create pathways into the middle class
all across the spectrum. And what the great thing is,
it's not just about helping the next generation. It's about
ensuring that the businesses that exist here today have a
robust workforce they can draw on. And that also attracts
new businesses to this community. So it's a win win
(04:19):
for everybody. Right.
Speaker 2 (04:20):
I think also somewhat education about what those skills pay,
because not everyone recognizes that it's an affordable living wage
of the you know, a mechanic, nurses, you know, there's
a lot of technical degrees that are pathways into the
middle class. So, going in, what would be your top
(04:43):
three priorities? What are you going to hit right out
of the gate?
Speaker 1 (04:46):
Well, the first thing is I want to launch Orange
County promise and to make this commitment to the next
generation because from my life experience, I know that when
you offer people hope, they'll bring the hard work and
that's going to just transform our workforce here in our
economy here. I think the second thing is a little
more bureaucratic, but we have to change our permitting process
(05:07):
at the county so that the county is a partner,
not a hurdle, to the small businesses, to the families
who are trying to create a life here. And then
finally creating a comprehensive plan and looking for the funding
sources to make the necessary investments into reducing congestion, making
(05:28):
life a little easier for people. And I know your
listeners listen to your station while they're in the commute,
but maybe we can make their commutes just a little
bit shorter and they spend a little more time with
your families. Great idea, Great idea.
Speaker 2 (05:42):
What would you like voters to know about you that
distinguishes you from the other candidates in the race.
Speaker 1 (05:48):
I'm somebody who has proven executive, legislative in leadership experience
across a wide range of complex organizations, whether that was
in business at the Apartment of Defense or in Congress,
and I've always been able to bring people together to
deliver real results because for me, leadership is about creating
(06:09):
opportunity and public service is about delivering results.
Speaker 2 (06:13):
Stephanie, thank you. It was really a joy to meet
you today again. This is Stephanie Murphy and she's running
for Orange County mayor.
Speaker 1 (06:19):
Thank you, thanks so much for having me
Hi.
Speaker 2 (00:00):
This Judy Copierra and I am the market president here
in Central Florida and this is Meet the Candidates Today.
We have the opportunity to speak with Stephanie Murphy, who
was running for Orange County Mayor.
Speaker 1 (00:12):
Welcome Stephanie, Thank you so much for having me, so
happy to be here with you.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
Tell us just a little bit about yourself.
Speaker 1 (00:18):
Well, I'm Stephanie Murphy and I'm running for Orange County Mayor.
I am raising two kids here in Orange County, and
I have been someone who's worked in business in national security,
and then I served and represented this community in Congress
for six years and just really love this community and
(00:39):
I know that it can be an incredible place to
raise a family. We just need leadership to help us
navigate the incredible growth that we're experiencing.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
So what prompted you to run for this office?
Speaker 1 (00:50):
Well, as I mentioned, I'm raising kids in this community
and I see that we're growing fast. But growth doesn't
always manifest itself into opportunity unity for everybody. Sometimes it
can create pressures on working families here. You know, housing
becoming more unaffordable, traffic that's increasing, jobs that aren't paying
as well, and I really want to be able to
(01:13):
serve this community and create opportunities for this generation in
the next to make this a not only a world
class destination, but a world class community for the residents
who live here.
Speaker 2 (01:23):
So what is experienced skills or expertise do you feel
like you will bring to county mayor position.
Speaker 1 (01:30):
Well, the county mayor is the executive over a nearly
nine billion dollar organization with over eight thousand employees and
one point six million customers or residents. So that requires
being both an executive and a legislator because they sit
over the board of County Commissioners. I'm somebody who've has
had experience as an executive in business, somebody who's worked
(01:55):
in national security in the world's largest bureaucracy, who's also
been a legislator in Congress, and I bring together executive,
legislative and leadership skills to lead this community.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
We talked about this a little bit, but what do
you feel is the most pressing issue facing Orange County?
Speaker 1 (02:14):
On this campaign trail, I have been speaking to people
all across the county and I hear repeatedly the need
for more attainable housing, less congestion, and better paying jobs.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
And how would you address those concerns if you're elected,
what's the plan.
Speaker 1 (02:30):
If I have the honor of being the mayor of
Orange County, I would immediately go to ensuring that we
are bringing more housing that is attainable for working families
onto the market. We have an incredible demand and the
supplies and keeping pace, and so the prices are going
up and people who work here can no longer afford
to live here, and I think that's wrong. We need
(02:51):
to address that in the county can make some changes
on the congestion. We have talked about our infrastructure issues,
our transportation issues for decades. We need to really set
out a plan and pull down state dollars and federal
dollars to be able to address transportation issues. I know
a little bit of how to get to the money
(03:12):
at the federal and the state to make sure that
we make the necessary investments so that we keep pace
with growth. And then finally on the well paying jobs front.
You know, I have spent my career working with CEOs
and investors and heads of states and governors, and I
can bring those relationships to bear to recruit companies and
(03:33):
businesses to come here. And I want to invest in
the workforce through a program I'm calling Orange County Promise,
which guarantees every high school student who graduates the opportunity
to get a trade a Technical Owners Associates degree. This
is an investment we can't afford not to make.
Speaker 2 (03:51):
Yeah, that's a different topic than every child needs to
go to college.
Speaker 1 (03:55):
Right.
Speaker 2 (03:55):
It's college, Yes, it's right.
Speaker 1 (03:57):
College is a pathway, but it's not only path right,
and we need to create pathways into the middle class
all across the spectrum. And what the great thing is,
it's not just about helping the next generation. It's about
ensuring that the businesses that exist here today have a
robust workforce they can draw on. And that also attracts
new businesses to this community. So it's a win win
(04:19):
for everybody. Right.
Speaker 2 (04:20):
I think also somewhat education about what those skills pay,
because not everyone recognizes that it's an affordable living wage
of the you know, a mechanic, nurses, you know, there's
a lot of technical degrees that are pathways into the
middle class. So, going in, what would be your top
(04:43):
three priorities? What are you going to hit right out
of the gate?
Speaker 1 (04:46):
Well, the first thing is I want to launch Orange
County promise and to make this commitment to the next
generation because from my life experience, I know that when
you offer people hope, they'll bring the hard work and
that's going to just transform our workforce here in our
economy here. I think the second thing is a little
more bureaucratic, but we have to change our permitting process
(05:07):
at the county so that the county is a partner,
not a hurdle, to the small businesses, to the families
who are trying to create a life here. And then
finally creating a comprehensive plan and looking for the funding
sources to make the necessary investments into reducing congestion, making
(05:28):
life a little easier for people. And I know your
listeners listen to your station while they're in the commute,
but maybe we can make their commutes just a little
bit shorter and they spend a little more time with
your families. Great idea, Great idea.
Speaker 2 (05:42):
What would you like voters to know about you that
distinguishes you from the other candidates in the race.
Speaker 1 (05:48):
I'm somebody who has proven executive, legislative in leadership experience
across a wide range of complex organizations, whether that was
in business at the Apartment of Defense or in Congress,
and I've always been able to bring people together to
deliver real results because for me, leadership is about creating
(06:09):
opportunity and public service is about delivering results.
Speaker 2 (06:13):
Stephanie, thank you. It was really a joy to meet
you today again. This is Stephanie Murphy and she's running
for Orange County mayor.
Speaker 1 (06:19):
Thank you, thanks so much for having me
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