The Candidate

Try to craft the ultimate resumé for Winter Garden City Commissioner and you won’t do much better than the one Danny Culberson—DJ to his friends—already possesses. He’s worked in the corporate world leading large companies—and held budget responsibility that is comparable to Winter Garden’s Operating Budget. He’s also been an entrepreneur and owned businesses large and small.

Plus, DJ and his husband Bradley grew their family in 2018 when they were fortunate enough to become parents to their three amazing children, aged seven, fifteen and sixteen. Being a dad  to these wonderful young men is the honor of DJ’s life. Perhaps it’s that resume entry more than any other that explains his strong empathy for the trials and tribulations of working families. Why does that matter?

“Winter Garden has done a phenomenal job revitalizing our downtown area, but we have missed ways to do more to help working families. As non-local, larger businesses continue to move in on valuable commercial real estate, smaller local businesses are being squeezed out. Rents are rising way out of reach for many. We need to level the playing field so large businesses pay their fair share.”

Danny also has three boys moving through the education system and is very passionate about investing in youth leadership and life skills courses that could supplement a high school’s curriculum. “It is something I feel is important and could improve residents and businesses alike. Financial acumen, entrepreneurial skills, public speaking, interviewing skills, local government—I believe these can all have a positive impact on our community.

“Winter Garden has a small-town persona. It’s a quality rigorously defended by this city even before growth took off and business really began to boom. It’s why folks continue to move here and property values continue to rise. The challenge is: How do we maintain that unique quality of ours in the face of all that inevitable change? Perhaps we need leadership that comes from a broader perspective. One where business interests and family interests are equal. I have a unique skill set and a passion to fix the issues that really matter and to get that job done.”