​​Meet the 4 candidates running for Kissimmee mayor in Tuesday’s primary

The primary election will determine who will fill the open mayor seat, also known as Council Seat 5, as current mayor Olga González steps down because of term limits.

One of the positions competing in Florida’s Aug. 20 primary that will have the most impact on the Puerto Rican community is that of the mayor of Kissimmee.

Competing in the race are Puerto Ricans Olga Cariño, Jackie Espinoza, Juan Cortés, and Colombian Olga Lucía Castaño.

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The four candidates are vying for an opportunity to lead the city, with a focus on economic development and transportation. 

The primary election will determine who will fill the open mayor seat, also known as Council Seat 5, as current mayor Olga González steps down because of term limits. If no candidate secures more than 50% of the vote, the top two contenders will face off in a runoff election in November.

One of the candidates, Jackie Espinosa, is an entrepreneur who ran as a Democrat for Osceola County commissioner in 2022. Her platform for mayor includes a strategic infrastructure plan, reduced utility rates, and senior support services.

“My purpose is to serve. To serve a people that are in pure growth. A people that need representation,” Espinosa said in a Facebook live session.

The political newcomer and businesswoman Olga Cariño, who is mother of former Miss Florida and Miss Puerto Rico Universe, Ashley Cariño, doesn’t have a party affiliation.

Cariño’s platform includes investing in the city’s local economy to create more jobs and bring in new businesses. She will also prioritize the safety and well-being of families by ensuring that neighborhoods are safe and secure.

Former state representative and New York corrections officer John Cortés is affiliated with the Democratic party. 

He has lived in Kissimmee for 28 years and represented District 43 in the state house for six years. Cortés plans to revitalize downtown Kissimmee and open a hotel near Lakefront Park. He says he will have an “open door policy” for residents to speak with him without an appointment.

“If we need to pass a bill, I know where to go and who to talk to,” Cortes said. “I worked with the senators and other legislators and talk to them… and I worked for Congressman Soto for two years so I know the federal side,” the candidate told Orlando Sentinel.

Olga Castaño currently occupies seat one commissioner. Her platform plans to improve transportation, increase affordable housing, and public safety, and improve senior resources. Castaño is a registered Republican.

The campaign for the mayor seat was marked by controversy and serious accusations between Cariño and Espinosa.

 It began in November 2023 when Cariño held a press conference at her downtown Kissimmee restaurant, Cariño’s Café, announcing she filed a complaint to the Kissimmee Police Department.

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Cariño alleged Espinosa’s campaign had threatened to release personal and financial history that would put her campaign in a negative light and put her safety at risk unless she left the race.

Espinosa and an associate named by Cariño, Jeremy Fetzer, denied any wrongdoing. Espinosa then filed her own complaint against Cariño for harassing her campaign staff. Both complaints to KPD were turned over to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE). Those cases are still open according to FDLE.