1980 Orlando mayoral election
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September 9, 1980
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| Elections in Florida |
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 Government |
The 1980 Orlando mayoral election took place on September 9, 1980. Incumbent Mayor Carl T. Langford declined to seek re-election to a fourth term.[1] Three candidates ran to succeed him: attorney Bill Frederick, City Commissioner Shelton Adams, and city planner Dale Smith.
Adams and Frederick emerged as the frontrunners,[2] but one month prior to the election, the race was upended when the IRS opened a criminal investigation into Adams's finances.[3] Adams denied any wrongdoing, and alleged that the probe was politically motivated.[4] The Sentinel Star endorsed Frederick, praising him as "hav[ing] the best chance to unite this community behind a city government that works for all its citizens," and criticizing Adams's "burning ambition for the mayor's office."[5]
Frederick ultimately won the election in a landslide, receiving 68 percent of the vote to Adams's 23 percent and Smith's 8 percent.[6] Shortly after the election, the IRS dropped its investigation into Adams's finances, which he alleged was "brought forward by someone" associated with Frederick.[7]