ORANGE PARK – Madison “Maddie” Hilt is running against Kenneth Vogel for Seat 4 on the Orange Park Town Council. 

“No matter who you are, I want to work with you to keep Orange Park strong and continue building our awesome sense of community," Hilt said. 

If elected, Hilt would be the first trans individual to hold public office in Florida. However, she doesn't want her identity to define her campaign. 

“I don’t want to have to talk about who I am; I want to talk about what I can do for my neighbors," she said. 

Hilt is an assistant pastor at Riverside Church at Park and King. She helps organize her church's outreach program, Clay Mission, which meets at the Orange Park Library and coordinates cleanups for parks and repairs for accessibility ramps. 

She said her commitment to her congregation and community has led her to seek public office. 

"I am really passionate about keeping the town safe for people to get around. We have some good roots of walkability here," she said. 

It's impossible not to notice the congestion along U.S. Highway 17. Hilt is open-minded about building a pedestrian bridge across U.S. 17 and Kingsley Avenue. She said she wanted to revisit the issue of red-light cameras. 

"There are other ways to ensure intersection safety that is more rigorously proven, especially since red-light cameras (have a disproportionate) impact on the lowest earners or those with fixed incomes," she said. 

Hilt cited possible federal funding for a rail study, which could open up Orange Park to an additional Amtrak station. 

"Rails are what built this town. We would benefit from getting them back. We should give people other options in addition to cars," she said. 

Hilt said she was proud to call Orange Park home for many years. Her love for the community has only grown since moving into her grandparent's home after he passed away.

She said what makes Orange Park special is its small-town feel in an urban environment. Also, her neighbors. Many may have different opinions on orientation, but she said she is always treated respectfully. Hilt flies pride flags, and some of her neighbors fly Trump flags, but everyone gets along, she said. 

Some of Hilt's goals include fostering greater transparency on the town council dais, organizing more events at Town Hall Park and being accessible to her constituents. She said she is excited to give back to the community that raised her. 

"There’s so much we can do so that town can live happier and healthier lives," she said. 

Hilt responded to her decision to opt for Seat 4 instead of Seat 3. She said if anyone were going to run unopposed, she would prefer it to be Taylor who is already well-known in the community. 

"Everything he was campaigning on I believe, too," she said. 

Her favorite restaurants in Orange Park are OP Fish House and Dairy Queen. 

She currently serves on the Orange Park Economic and Community Development Committee. 

The election will be on Municipal Super Tuesday, April 9. For more information about the election process, reach out to the supervisor of the supervisor of elections office.