Florida Ethics Commission Fines Kissimmee Mayor $2,000 and Issues Public Reprimand

The Florida Commission on Ethics has approved a $2,000 civil fine and a public reprimand for Kissimmee Mayor Jackie Espinosa, resolving an ethics case tied to COVID-era business relief money that went to her and her family members. The commission accepted the joint resolution agreement unanimously at its Friday, Oct. 23 meeting.

Under the deal, Espinosa will also be formally censured. The commission said she violated Section 112.3137 of the Florida Statutes "by having an employment and or contractual relationship with the entity doing business with her agency."

The ethics ruling arrives just days after Espinosa was arrested early Wednesday on charges of grand theft and fraud. Those charges relate to $50,000 in grants awarded under the City of Kissimmee's "Business Boost 2.0" program to her and to businesses owned by relatives.

The Florida Attorney's Office and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement allege that Espinosa, as mayor, helped create and expand the program. They say she then sought $50,000 in grants for businesses linked to herself or her family, and disregarded ethical concerns raised by city staff.

FOX 35 Orlando reviewed the arrest affidavit, which lays out where the money went. Four businesses that rent space in a building the mayor owns received $10,000 each. Three businesses owned by Espinosa or her family received a combined $50,000 across three grants: $15,000 to The Real Estate Gallery, owned by her husband; $15,000 to The Kissimmee Diner, which closed five months after receiving the funds and has since been replaced by a new business; and $20,000 to Andanse LLC, which the mayor owns and which she and a family member lease.

Espinosa posted a $70,000 bond Thursday night and was released from jail, where reporters gathered. In a brief statement, she said, "What I want people to know is what happened yesterday requires all of us to go out and vote November 3rd. That's what I want to say and to the constituents of Kissimmee, we will be okay." FOX 35 said it asked Espinosa and her husband for comment on the allegations and the arrest but had not received a response.

Lillian Evans, one of three people who filed formal ethics complaints against the mayor, told the commission in a letter ahead of the hearing that a $2,000 fine was too lenient. She attended Friday's hearing but was not permitted to speak after a commissioner quickly cut off her attempt. Speaking about the arrest, Evans said, "I felt relief. I felt that we were actually getting what the City of Kissimmee deserves. Somebody that took money from the City of Kissimmee from our people, and she needs to pay for what she did."

Espinosa's future in office remains unsettled. The City of Kissimmee said she stays mayor unless she is suspended, removed or resigns, and a spokesperson noted that the city charter does not necessarily spell out what happens when a sitting mayor or commissioner is arrested.

Gov. Ron DeSantis has the power to remove an elected official from office and has used it in the past. No announcement has been made about Espinosa's position, and FOX 35 said it contacted the governor's office for comment on Friday.