Follow-Up: Florida Governor Suspends Kissimmee Mayor: Vice Mayor Takes Over After Arrest in Relief-Fund Case
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed Executive Order 26-226 on October 30 suspending Kissimmee Mayor Jackie Espinosa from office. Kissimmee is in Osceola County, Florida. Espinosa was arrested on October 21 by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) on charges of grand theft and an organized scheme to defraud; she has pleaded not guilty, denies criminal wrongdoing and is presumed innocent unless convicted.
According to Attorney General James Uthmeier and investigators, Espinosa, while mayor, helped create and expand the Kissimmee Business Boost 2.0 program, funded with COVID-era federal relief money, and obtained $50,000 in grants for three businesses connected to her and her family, refused to return the funds when asked, and ignored ethics concerns raised by city staff. In September 2026, the Florida Commission on Ethics reached an agreement with her finding probable cause of a violation of section 112.313(7), Florida Statutes, imposing a public reprimand and a $2,000 civil fine. She was released on October 22 on $70,000 bond.
The suspension bars Espinosa from performing the duties of mayor and from receiving salary, allowances and privileges of the office, and directs FDLE to assist the transition and the preservation of mayoral office records and devices. The City of Kissimmee announced on October 31 that, under the city charter, Vice Mayor Angela Eady has assumed the mayor's office until the suspension is revoked or Espinosa's term ends; Eady's Commission Seat 2 is now vacant and will be filled by commission appointment. Espinosa's term began in November 2024 and runs to 2028, and the city manager continues to run day-to-day operations.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: GSM 行政令统一模板（佛罗里达州州长行政令）
