ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN NEWS) – Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings might just make history yet again. Demings, who’s no stranger to breaking barriers, made a historic proposal to NASA Administrator and former U.S. Senator Bill Nelson: He’d be happy to be the first mayor to go into space. “I would love to be the first mayor astronaut,” he said. While Administrator Nelson and the entire audience attending the final session of the National Association of Counties (NACo)’s Large Urban County Caucus (LUCC) Symposium erupted into laughter, Nelson’s response was even more intriguing.
Nelson angled his head with raised eyebrows and raised everyone else’s eyebrows with his reply: “Be careful what you wish for.”
Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings proposes being the first mayor astronaut to NASA Administrator Bill Nelson during the National Association of Counties (NACo)’s Large Urban County Caucus (LUCC) Symposium at Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista Friday, October 6, 2023.Photo: Harry Castiblanco / Florida National News.
Mayor Demings is married to former U.S. Representative Val Demings. In early August 2020, Demings was said to be one of the top contenders to be Joe Biden’s vice-presidential running mate in the 2020 United States presidential election, along with Kamala Harris and Susan Rice.
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson delivers the final keynote during the National Association of Counties (NACo)’s Large Urban County Caucus (LUCC) Symposium at Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista Friday, October 6, 2023. Photo: Harry Castiblanco / Florida National News.Orange County Government’s Communications Manager Jane Watrel asks a question to NASA Administrator Bill Nelson during the National Association of Counties (NACo)’s Large Urban County Caucus (LUCC) Symposium at Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista Friday, October 6, 2023. Photo: Harry Castiblanco / Florida National News.
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson answers questions during the National Association of Counties (NACo)’s Large Urban County Caucus (LUCC) Symposium at Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista Friday, October 6, 2023. Photo: Harry Castiblanco / Florida National News.
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson answers questions during the National Association of Counties (NACo)’s Large Urban County Caucus (LUCC) Symposium at Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista Friday, October 6, 2023. Photo: Harry Castiblanco / Florida National News.
Friday’s Q&A session capped a three-day symposium that began Wednesday at the Orange County Convention Center and ended at the Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista. The agenda featured interactive information sessions and tours of Orange County venues in which national county government leaders converged to identify urban challenges and solutions through information sessions and national policy discussions.
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson takes a group selfie with attendees at the conclusion of the National Association of Counties (NACo)’s Large Urban County Caucus (LUCC) Symposium at Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista Friday, October 6, 2023. Photo: Harry Castiblanco / Florida National News.NASA Administrator Bill Nelson takes a photo with Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings, Orange County Government staff and attendees of the National Association of Counties (NACo)’s Large Urban County Caucus (LUCC) Symposium at Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista Friday, October 6, 2023. Photo: Harry Castiblanco / Florida National News.
_____________________________
Mellissa Thomas is Editor for Florida National News. | mellissa.thomas@floridanationalnews.com
