Big developers and tourism bosses take sides in two key elections in Orlando

But central Florida's most powerful industries seem to be split in a third race.

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There probably aren’t many people with more riding on this year’s Orange County commission elections than the developers of “Sustanee,” a sprawling housing subdivision that has been proposed for 1,800 acres of rural ranchlands on the county’s far-eastern fringe.

There aren’t many people spending more money on those races, either.

Records show a Texas-based development company behind Sustanee has in recent weeks donated at least $4,500 to a political committee that Steve Leary, a Republican former mayor of Winter Park, has been using to attack Democrat Kelly Semrad, a university professor and environmental activist, in Orange County’s District 5 county commission race. Semrad has been endorsed by outgoing commissioner Emily Bonilla — who voted against Sustanee.

That same company has also given at least $10,000 to a second political committee supporting Linda Stewart, a Democratic state senator who is challenging fellow Democrat and incumbent Commissioner Mayra Uribe, in Orange County’s District 3 race. Uribe also voted against Sustanee.

And the company has put at least $40,000 into a third political committee promoting Austin Arthur, a Republican marketing executive and anti-abortion activist who is running against Democratic incumbent Commissioner Nicole Wilson in the county’s District 1 race. Wilson voted against Sustanee, too.

It’s but one example of the big money pouring into a trio of races that could have a profound impact on the future of metro Orlando — on everything from tourism taxes to suburban sprawl.

Between them, the candidates running for Orange County Commission this year have raised something close to $2 million. But that money is following an interesting path.

Executives and lobbyists across Central Florida’s two most influential industries —tourism and real-estate — are almost uniformly lining up behind Arthur, the Republican candidate in District 1 in in west Orange County, and Leary, the Republican running in District 5 on the county’s eastern side, according to a review of local and state campaign-finance reports.

But such donors appear divided in District 3, which covers communities south and east of Orlando. That race pits a pair of Democrats with mixed records against each other: Stewart, who has been the most Republican-voting Democratic state senator in Florida, and Uribe, who has sometimes sided with big business interests on important votes.

For instance, records show that Orlando hotel magnate Harris Rosen and his companies have donated at least $23,200 to Leary; $5,500 to Arthur; and $6,500 to Uribe. (All totals include donations to each candidate’s campaign account and political committees affiliated with their campaigns, unless otherwise specified.)

Similarly, executives affiliated with Texas-based hotel and retail developer Rida Development have given at least $10,000 to Leary, $7,000 to Arthur and $5,000 to Uribe.

But then there is the Florida Association of Realtors, a real-estate industry lobbying group, which has given at least $6,000 each to Leary, Arthur and Stewart. And the Florida Apartment Association, which represents landlords and apartment developers and which has given at least $5,500 apiece to Leary, Arthur and Stewart. And the Central Florida Hotel & Lodging Association, which is run by Orlando hotel and theme park executives and has given at least $4,000 to the same three candidates.

The net result has been an enormous fundraising advantage for both Arthur and Leary in the District 1 and District 5 races.

Arthur — who has also banked lots of untraceable dark money from Tallahassee — has raised roughly 8 times as much money ($575,000) as Nicole Wilson ($74,000), the incumbent commissioner who was first elected four years ago after helping lead local opposition to a proposed toll road through a state forest.

Leary, meanwhile, has raised more than four times as much money ($417,000) as Kelly Semrad ($95,000), a member of the environmental group Save Orange County who has personally led a campaign to establish a rural boundary and slow suburban sprawl in the fast-growing region.

For their parts, records show that Wilson and Semrad have raised much of their money from labor unions, left-leaning interest groups, and small-dollar donors. For instance, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 606 has donated $2,000 to each candidate. U.S. Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-Orlando) and Ruth’s List, which helps women candidates for office who support abortion rights, have each donated $1,000 apiece to Wilson and Semrad.

Uribe has also raised far more money ($550,000) than Stewart ($154,000) overall. But Uribe’s cash advantage isn’t quite as large as Arthur’s and Leary’s — and Stewart has also benefited from a bunch of money spent by outside consultants through political committees that make it difficult to quantify the exact amount spent on her behalf.

Uribe and Stewart seem to be tapping into donors who have needed their votes in the past. Uribe, for instance, has raised at least $18,500 from developers behind “The Grow,” a 1,200-acre subdivision being built in east Orange County. (Those developers have also given at least $3,000 each to Leary and Arthur.)

Stewart, on the other hand, has raised at least $13,500 from Associated Industries of Florida, the big business lobbying group in Tallahassee that represents electric companies, sugar producers and other corporate interests that seek favor from the Florida Legislature.

Some traditionally large donors seem to be sitting out the third race.

The Greater Orlando Builders Association, which represents companies like Mattamy Homes and Toll Brothers, has given $9,500 to Leary. It’s also given $9,500 to Arthur, including $2,000 to Arthur directly and $7,500 to a third-party group paying for Arthur ads. But the lobbying group doesn’t appear to have spent anything on Stewart or Uribe.

And others still may simply be hedging their bets. An example: Companies linked to developer and former Orange County Commissioner Scott Boyd have given at least $9,000 to Arthur and $1,000 to Leary — but also $2,000 to Stewart and $1,000 to Uribe.

And remember International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 606 — the union that gave $2,000 apiece to Wilson and Semrad? It’s given $2,000 each to both Stewart and Uribe, too.