Get to Know Amy Mercado

Amy is an effective, results-oriented business leader, former Legislator, and first Latina to hold the office of Orange County Property Appraiser.  She has years of experience in operations, budget management, leading teams, public policy, and more.

Amy is a working mom of six and a caretaker to an ailing grandparent.  She has spent her entire life doing what’s best for those around her.  In 2016, she was elected as Representative for Florida House District 48 and was subsequently re-elected in 2018.  In 2020 she was elected as the Orange County Property Appraiser. 

Amy is of Puerto Rican descent and was born and raised in the Bronx by Carmen Torres, a New York City Police Department Officer, and Victor “Vic” Torres, a New York City Transit Police Detective.  Amy has called Orange County home since 1996.  She and her husband have raised their blended family in Orlando, where four of their six children graduated from the Orange County Public School System. 

EDUCATION

Amy earned her Executive MBA from the Jack Welch Management Institute at Strayer University and Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Management from American Intercontinental University.


CAREER

Amy’s career spans diverse industries and roles, including management, operations, healthcare and legal services.

Amy started her career in the healthcare industry as a registrar at St. Barnabas Hospital in the Bronx and when she relocated to Florida, she expanded her career to include administrative and clinical critical care at Florida Hospital Orlando (now AdventHealth). Additionally, she has experience working as a project manager for several public finance attorneys in Central Florida.

Before getting elected as the Orange County Property Appraiser, Amy severed as the Director of Operations for the national commodity board overseen by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, in which she was responsible for managing a multi-million-dollar budget, reputation and crisis management, organizational leadership, vendor procurement, compliance, and human resources.

AWARDS & RECOGNITION

Amy has received recognition and accolades for her legislative and professional work from various organizations, including:

  • Fiambrera Award, Dedicated Community Servant, 2020 (Puerto Rican Bar Association of FL)

  • Named one of Central Florida’s Most Powerful Politicians by FloridaPolitics.com, 2019

  • Democratic Women’s Club of Florida (DWCF) Legislative Advocate of the Year, 2019

  • Catholics in Public Life Champion Award, 2019

  • Florida League of Cities, Legislator Award, 2018

  • Florida Renal Coalition, Legislator of the Year, 2018

  • True Health, True Champion Award, Community Champion, 2018

  • Florida Democratic Party Disability Caucus, Upcoming Legislator, 2018

  • Vamos4PR Action Líder Excepcional Refugiados Por Viviendas, 2018

  • Florida Association of Counties, County Champion Award, Legislative Session, 2017

  • Mi Familia Vota Education Fund and FWD.us, The Esperanza Award, 2017

  • The National Congress of Black Women, Inc.

    • Certificate of Appreciation for Co-Sponsoring HB 1199, 2017

  • Puerto Rican Bar Association of Florida

    • Outstanding Community Service, 20th Anniversary of Puerto Rico Day

  • Orange County Classroom Teachers Association, Defending Public Education

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

Amy has built a reputation as an effective and trusted community activist. Her community involvement includes:

  • Vice-Chair of the Florida Democratic Party

  • Former Vice-Chair of the Legislative Progressive Caucus

  • Former Member of Orange County’s Membership and Mission Review Board (Dist. 3 Rep.)

  • Former Chairwoman of the Orange County Democratic Executive Committee

  • Former President of the Orange County Democratic Hispanic Caucus

  • Former Interim Secretary of the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement’s (CFL Ch.)

  • Former Secretary of the Florida Council of the League of United Latin American Citizens

  • Former Board Member of Planned Parenthood of Greater Orlando

  • Field Manager for Tiffany Moore Russell for Orange County Clerk of Court

  • Campaign Manager for Ricardo Rangel, House District 43

  • Campaign Manager for Victor M. Torres, House District 48 and Senate District 15

  • Florida Elector for President Barack Obama


MEMBERSHIPS

Amy’s memberships include:

  • Society of Human Resource Management

  • Greater Orlando Society for Human Resource Management

  • Former Member of the Florida Voters League

  • Former Member of the Hispanic Chamber of Metro Orlando


LEGISLATIVE SERVICE

Amy has a proven track record of passing bipartisan legislation in Tallahassee.  Her bills passed include:

House Bill 675: Effective October 1, 2020, this bill changes the categories and penalties for indecent exposure so that the crime can be meaningfully prosecuted. This bill increases the criminal penalty for indecent exposure when committed by exposing or exhibiting the sexual organs in a vulgar or indecent manner to a third-degree felony for the secondary offense.

House Bill 1259: Effective July 1, 2020, the bill prohibits the involuntary placement of pregnant prisoners in restrictive housing, provides requirements for the treatment of pregnant prisoners placed in restrictive housing and requires pregnant prisoners to be placed in a designated medical housing unit or admitted to the infirmary under certain circumstances,

House Bill 611: This bill went into effect in 2019 and created a misdemeanor exception for street racing that allows law enforcement to work up a case using witness statements, cellphone videos and more that capture illegal races.

House Bill 49: This bill went into effect in 2019 and requires state correctional facilities to provide incarcerated women with healthcare products and requires documentation of certain incidents involving male correctional employees.

Amy’s legislative committee assignments included: 

2019-2020 Committees

  • Ways & Means Committee, Democratic Ranking Member

  • Civil Justice Subcommittee

  • Judiciary Committee

  • Rules Committee

 
2016-2018 Committees

  • Ways & Means Committee

  • Health Care Appropriations Subcommittee

  • Health Quality Subcommittee

  • Joint Administrative Procedures Committee

  • Public Integrity & Ethics Committee

  • Tourism & Gaming Control Subcommittee