Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

St. Cloud City Council Election 2026

1 of 5

council seats up

Vote for up to 1

2 candidates

Updated Oct 4, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check →

The candidates

Listed alphabetically by last name. Every position links to its source.

City Council Seat 5 · 1 seat

Alex RodriguezInflight Supervisor who served as president of a homeowners association.4sourced
Kirk ZilkeRetired St. Cloud Police Department Deputy Chief with nearly 35 years of service to the city. He is also a licensed HVAC contractor and small business owner.5sourced

Only Council Seat 5 is on the Nov. 3 ballot, as a runoff between the top two finishers of the Aug. 18 primary; all St. Cloud voters choose, and Seat 4 was unopposed.

3 notes on these statements

In the Aug. 18 primary for Seat 5, Kirk Zilke received 40.5% (3,256 votes), Alex Rodriguez 29.8% (2,396) and Jim Moore 29.7% (2,388). Around Osceola · Aug 18, 2026

After a manual recount, Alex Rodriguez finished ahead of Jim Moore by one vote, putting Rodriguez in the runoff against Kirk Zilke. Spectrum News 13 · Aug 22, 2026

Shawn Fletcher is not running for re-election, so Seat 5 is open. Around Osceola · Oct 2, 2026

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Ken GilbertDeputy Mayor, Council Seat 4; current term ends November 2026bio only Jennifer A. PaulCouncil Member, Seat 2; term ends November 2028bio only Chris RobertsonMayor, Council Seat 1; term ends November 2028bio only Kolby UrbanCouncil Member, Seat 3; term ends November 2028bio only

Start here

Match quiz2 questions · answers stay on your phone Seat the CouncilPick winners, see the council What council decidesGrowth, roads and traffic, City budget, Property tax amendment (Amendment 3)Key datesDeadlines and vote centers

Next date

Early voting begins

Mon, Oct 19, 2026

All key dates

What the next council decides

Growth, roads and traffic

Where it standsSt. Cloud's population has more than doubled since 2010, and county, state and regional agencies have road projects under way or planned.

What's on the tableThe next council votes on development approvals and works with the county and state on roads that serve new neighborhoods.

The city reports a 2025 population of 71,500, more than double its 2010 population. City of St. Cloud
The city projects about 51,000 additional residents by 2045. City of St. Cloud
The Central Florida Expressway Authority's State Road 534 toll road, a 14-mile route across Orange and Osceola counties, was expected to begin construction in early 2027. Spectrum News 13 · May 6, 2026

City budget

Where it standsThe council adopted a roughly $231 million budget for 2026-27 that keeps the property tax rate at 5.1128 mills.

What's on the tableThe next council sets future budgets and the tax rate, including how to respond to any change in property tax revenue.

The adopted budget is the first in 31 years that does not require prior-year reserves to fully fund operations. Around Osceola · Oct 1, 2026
The proposed budget kept the millage rate at 5.1128 for the 14th consecutive year. Spectrum News 13 · Sep 17, 2026
A city communications director said that when the millage rate stays the same and property values rise, homeowners see higher taxes. Spectrum News 13 · Sep 17, 2026

Property tax amendment (Amendment 3)

Where it standsFlorida voters decide Amendment 3 on Nov. 3, and Osceola County cities trimmed budgets in case it passes.

What's on the tableIf it passes, the council would plan budgets around the amendment's changes to homestead exemptions and limits on local spending of property tax revenue.

A yes vote would raise the homestead exemption for non-school taxes and limit how counties and municipalities can spend property tax revenue. Ballotpedia
Florida constitutional amendments need 60 percent of the vote to pass. Ballotpedia
Osceola County, its cities and the School District streamlined budgets to prepare for the possibility that Amendment 3 passes. Around Osceola · Oct 1, 2026

Public safety funding

Where it standsPolice, fire and emergency services make up most of the city's General Fund.

What's on the tableThe next council funds public safety staffing as the city grows and as grant-funded firefighter positions move to the General Fund.

Public safety is about 62.9% of the General Fund, roughly $59.4 million for police, fire and emergency services, in the proposed 2026-27 budget. Spectrum News 13 · Sep 17, 2026
The budget includes 48 firefighters initially funded through a federal SAFER grant; the General Fund will ultimately absorb the cost. Spectrum News 13 · Sep 17, 2026

Housing and affordability

Where it standsThe city is updating the Housing Element of its Comprehensive Plan and projects it will need more than 21,000 new housing units by 2045.

What's on the tableThe next council votes on zoning and development approvals that shape the mix and cost of housing.

The city reports a median rent of $1,650 a month and a median home value of $383,000 in 2024. City of St. Cloud
The city reports a homeownership rate of 61%. City of St. Cloud
The city projects a need for more than 21,000 new housing units by 2045, in addition to 29,195 existing units. City of St. Cloud

Who matches you?

Answer any of these questions. We compare your answers with each person's sourced record, and nothing is stored. Questions where no one has a sourced record yet are left out. Tap a selected answer again to skip it.

1. Who should pay for the infrastructure that new development requires?
2. How would you vote on the Nov. 3 constitutional amendment on property taxes (Amendment 3)?

Seat the Council →

Pick a winner for each open seat and see where the resulting council stands on each issue.

Key dates

Early voting beginsPositively Osceola · Jul 21, 2026Oct 19, 2026
Early voting endsPositively Osceola · Jul 21, 2026Nov 1, 2026
Election Day (polls open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.)City of St. CloudNov 3, 2026

The seat math

4 stay (not up this year): Ken Gilbert, Jennifer A. Paul, Chris Robertson, Kolby Urban1 on this ballot

5 council seats. The council decides by a 3-vote majority.

Council members are elected at-large in nonpartisan elections to one of five seats, each for a four-year term; Seats 1, 2 and 3 are on one cycle and Seats 4 and 5 on the other. City of St. Cloud
The council consists of one mayor and four council members, with a term limit of two terms; a deputy mayor is selected from among the council members. City of St. Cloud
Chris Robertson was elected mayor in November 2024 and holds Seat 1. City of St. Cloud

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