Issues

Affordable Housing

As a member of the Orange County Planning & Zoning Commission, Eric Gray is fighting for real solutions to the affordable housing crisis. With over half of local families spending more than 30% of their income on housing—and many spending over 50%—our community is in urgent need of change. Eric supports bold policies that ensure the construction of affordable homes for families earning $30,000, $50,000, and $70,000 a year. With a regional housing shortage of at least 50,000 units, we must reform single-purpose zoning laws to promote multi-family housing that works for all, not just the wealthy. Eric is committed to making housing affordable and ensuring each person in Orange and Osceola counties can live with dignity.

Economic Success

As the former Chair of the East Orlando Chamber of Commerce, Eric Gray is committed to creating a brighter, more equitable future for Floridians. Only 36% of local high school graduates pursue higher education, and our community faces a lack of high-wage jobs. With world-class institutions like the University of Central Florida, Valencia College, and award-winning technical programs, we must connect students directly to affordable opportunities. Eric will advocate for every student to take both the SAT and TABE, preparing them for college or career certifications. By investing in workforce development, raising wages, providing better benefits, and diversifying our economy, Eric envisions a future in which all of our young people have a clear path to economic success.

Tourism

Right now, the benefits of Orlando being the most popular city in America fall disproportionately to mega-corporations. Eric is focused on flipping that - bringing the advantage of over 1 million visitors towards our locally owned and operated businesses. Multi-national corporations that profit from Central Florida should also invest in our neighborhoods. Eric Gray celebrates those businesses that help raise, not just the number of jobs, but also the standard of living. Eric encourages all residents to ask the question, “Who is benefitting from the gold rush of tourists enjoying Orange and Osceola Counties? Is it the people and businesses who live here or those that profit here and live elsewhere?”

Tourism tax investments should be reviewed by independent out-of-state economists who can forecast the return on investment for fantastic projects like the Convention Center, popular stadiums, world class attractions and cutting edge theaters. We must strategically forecast the economic impact of using these tax revenues for roads, utilities, law enforcement, infrastructure, schools, housing and transportation. Eric believes that working families deserve to benefit from their tax dollars by re-investment into our community, not handing them over to boost the bottom line of out-of-touch corporations.

Faith Partnership

Fostering strong partnerships between local institutions of all faiths will help build a more compassionate and united community. Eric Gray supports interfaith collaboration on key issues like homelessness, poverty, and social justice, recognizing that faith-based organizations are vital in addressing these challenges. Eric is committed to ensuring that government respects and uplifts the diverse religious traditions of our residents, advocating for policies that protect religious freedom while promoting the common good. Eric believes in helping churches, synagogues, mosques, temples and schools grow by promoting a revival of involvement for families engaging with any and all faith traditions. By working hand in hand with faith communities, we can create a more inclusive Florida where people of all beliefs feel called to contribute to the wellbeing of their neighbors.

Law Enforcement

Our jails are experiencing their highest head count in history, primarily due to local law enforcement being pressured by Tallahassee to criminalize homelessness. Eric Gray will focus on providing more public restrooms, as the most common violation amongst all incarcerated central Floridians is public urination. Our community needs many small shelters that blend into surrounding communities, such that they become points of community pride, not derision. The state legislature must work with municipalities at every level to address the homelessness epidemic. Eric believes that crime prevention and community safety begin with aggressive contemporary rehabilitation programs within our incarceration and judicial systems.

Environmental Sustainability

Eric Gray is dedicated to protecting Florida’s natural beauty while promoting smart, sustainable growth. By prioritizing smart, upward growth, we can ensure that Florida’s development benefits all residents and future generations without sacrificing our natural environment. As Central Florida experiences rapid population growth, Eric will continue his fight to ensure development aligns with our infrastructure and environmental needs. His vision includes expanding public transit, improving roads, increasing school capacity, and safeguarding our waterways from contamination by phasing out septic systems. Eric is committed to preserving our green spaces, lakes, and rivers, while protecting the rural boundary to prevent reckless sprawl.

Public Education

Eric Gray is a champion for high-quality public education. He fully supports renewing the half-penny sales tax to fund new schools and upgrade existing infrastructure. The state legislature must invest in historic pay increases for teachers, administrators, and paraprofessionals, recognizing their vital role in shaping our future. As a musician and lifelong marching band leader, Eric is a passionate advocate for arts education, elite team sports, and robust civics programs that empower students to lead beyond the classroom. Eric knows that every student deserves access to a world-class education that nurtures creativity and teamwork, ensuring they are prepared to thrive in our diverse and ever-evolving society.

Local Independence

Eric believes local governance should remain in the hands of those living in the community. He will continue his advocacy for increased home rule - preventing state-level pre-emption laws from diminishing the quality of life for local residents. It’s critically important to keep the outsized power and influence of corporations whose headquarters and leaders don’t even live in Florida in check! As it stands now, out-of-state corporate ownership outmatches our community - where we experience the lowest individual incomes and highest commute times among the largest 50 communities in the United States.

Public Transit

Combined, Orange and Osceola counties have fewer buses than the fleet at our largest theme park and half the number of similar sized geographical areas like Austin and Pittsburgh. This is a direct result of two policy elements:

1. The tourism industry demands that visitors stay at the parks and hotel properties - instead of exploring more of what Central Florida has to offer.
2. Our community has not yet taken a leadership role to bring all local jurisdictions to the table for a solution to our tragically underfunded bus and rail system.

Eric Gray will advocate for increased transportation funding, providing clean, safe, and affordable options for Central Floridians.

Disaster Relief

While state officials gut our relief funding and waste tax payer money on concentration camps, Eric Gray is focused on bringing disaster relief money home to Central Florida. Our neighborhoods need this support to aid our recovery from hurricanes and other disasters. Eric knows how crucial it is to fund our safety and our response teams in order to save lives when disaster strikes, and will pursue full funding for all search and rescue services.

Voting Rights

Voting rights and access are fundamental to democracy, yet Florida continues to restrict them, disproportionately affecting marginalized communities and decimating our free and fair electoral system. Eric Gray will fight for fair voter access and clear paths to rights restoration, especially for formerly incarcerated individuals. Voter suppression has perpetuated inequality and disenfranchised citizens. Protecting and expanding voter access in Florida is essential to ensuring that every voice is heard and that democracy truly reflects the will of all its people.