The Town of Orange will continue to have the same mayor for a second consecutive year.
On Tuesday, council members selected Harrison Cluff as the 2026 mayor. He was nominated by Jason Cashell with a second by Delmer Seal and approved unanimously. Cluff was also the 2025 mayor.
The vice mayor is newcomer Jeff Crane. Crane, who was recently appointed to the council by Orange County Circuit Court Judge David B. Franzen, was nominated by Cashell with a second from Seal and approved 4-1 with council member Donna Waugh-Robinson casting the dissenting vote. Waugh-Robinson had attempted to nominate Seal for a second term as vice mayor, but Cashell spoke his nomination mere seconds earlier.
As part of the reorganizational process, council members were assigned as liaisons to several boards and committees. Seal will serve on Planning District 9. Cashell will continue to serve as the liaison to Montpelier and the Orange County Board of Supervisors. Cluff will serve as the liaison to the town’s industrial development authority (IDA). Crane will serve as the liaison to the town’s planning commission.
In addition, the council voted to appoint James Cantrell to the town’s IDA. He will fill a vacancy created by the resignation of Martha Roby.
Meanwhile, council members are hoping for improved communications amongst themselves. The five agreed to a new civility pledge. The pledge is an effort “to build a stronger and more prosperous community by advocating for civil engagement, respecting others and their viewpoints and finding solutions for the betterment of the community.” The pledge “ensures all communication–both spoken and written–to be open, honest and transparent as this is vital for cultivating trust and relationships.” It also “ensures mutual respect to achieve municipal goals, recognizing that patience, tolerance and civility are imperative to success” and “creates opportunities for finding common ground and engaging in civil discussion to seek solutions through active listening and thoughtful participation.” It was approved by unanimous consensus.
