Tension spikes over Kissimmee mayor candidate

At Tuesday’s City Commission meeting, the city of Kissimmee certified all of the candidates running for three Commission seats in this year’s election cycle.

But, it wasn’t without controversy.

When officials brought up the mayoral candidacy of downtown business owner Olga Carino, members of a political action committee asked for her disqualification, citing she had not resided within the city for 12 months prior to qualifying for the race.

When introducing the candidates for the mayor’s race, open this year because sitting Mayor Olga Gonzalez has reached her two-term Commission limit, City Manager Mike Steigerwald told commissioners there was evidence they needed to look closely at to determine if Carino is eligible to run against current Commissioner Olga Castano, former state representative John Cortes and fellow downtown entrepreneur Jackie Espinosa.

Jeremy Fetzer, representing the Osceola Action Committee, provided in binders to each member of the dais what he said was evidence of alleged violations of Florida state statute of photo registration fraud, a felony, and homestead exemption fraud, a first-degree misdemeanor.

“I don’t want to go in depth with what the city staff has identified, and which has brought into question Miss Carino failure to establish the residency as required by the city charter,” said Fetzer. 

Fetzer explained that Carino maintained a homestead exemption on a home in Hidden Harbor, outside the city limits along Pleasant Hill Road. Carino maintained she rented a home on Katherine Street in 2023, and moved to a home on Monument Avenue near downtown at the start of 2024.

“I have lived in Kissimmee for a year and a half,” Carino told commissioners, noting her father lives in the Hidden Harbor home that she owns.

Carino and her attorney, Edwin Pradolaw, sat patiently for their turn to speak. Pinching the stack of papers in his hand, Pradolaw explained that Carino did not have a fair notice that this information would have been presented in this meeting.

“You all have a binder before you with nine exhibits all written up by a petitioner,” said Pradolaw. “We just received that two minutes ago before this (meeting) started. We can do one of two things. We can vote having adequate notice or we can postpone the hearing and go through each of the arguments that have been brought before this commission.”

With candidacies needing to be transmitted to the state for certification by Thursday, before the next time commissioners meet, City Attorney Olga Torres explained the decision needed to be made Tuesday, as postponing the election was not an option.

As commissioners discussed the issue, Steigerwald read from the city charter the three requirements needed to fulfill residency – produced a voter registration card within city limits for a period of no less than four months prior qualifying, a Florida driver’s license which shows the individuals address within the city limits of no less than 12 months, and a “legal instrument of title showing ownership of residential ownership for no less than 12 months prior to qualifying with proof of documents,” such as a utility bill.

Torres noted Carino had produced a cellphone bill with the rental residences to fulfill the requirement, despite the intensity of an audience passionate on both sides of the issue. Fetzer went as far as to say legal instruments like rental leases can be forged.

With the facts presented, Commissioner Janette Martinez made a motion that all candidates for mayor be approved. 

“That way we don’t disenfranchise the voter,” she said. “If the voters think a candidate isn’t qualified, they can vote for someone else. That burden will fall on the voter.”

The motion passed unanimously, after which Carino, Pradolaw, and Carino’s supporters exited City Hall, where a line of cars playing music and sirens in celebration was waiting.

“I feel very happy because my people and my community want me,” Carino said.

The city election is Aug. 20. If none of the four candidates garner 50% of the vote, the top two vote-getters will move on to a Nov, 5 run-off.