Ron DeSantis removes Jackie Espinosa from Kissimmee mayor's office
Angela Eady took over on an interim basis while Espinosa's suspension remains in force or until the current term ends.
Ron DeSantis signed Executive Order 26-226 suspending Eva Jacqulyn ‘Jackie’ Espinosa as mayor of Kissimmee, Florida. The decision came nine days after Espinosa's arrest. The available description links the measure to an investigation of alleged violations of state law but does not detail the conduct under investigation in that passage.
While the suspension remains active, Espinosa cannot exercise the powers of mayor, collect the position's salary or receive its benefits. Under Kissimmee's city charter, the measure will remain in place until it is revoked or the mayor's current term ends, whichever occurs first.
Angela Eady, the deputy mayor, assumed the duties of acting mayor. The city charter provides that she will remain in the position until Espinosa's suspension is revoked or the current term ends, whichever comes first. The replacement is temporary and tied to the duration of the measure.
Jail records stated that Espinosa faced charges of theft involving between $20,000 and $100,000 and organized fraud involving $50,000 or more. Those references are charges, not a determination of guilt. The available passages do not give a calendar date for the arrest or say what later occurred with the charges.
The replacement also temporarily leaves vacant seat 2, which Eady held on the Commission, while she serves as mayor. Available information gives no exact date for the suspension and does not indicate when it could be reviewed. The concrete time reference is the nine-day interval between Espinosa's arrest and the signing of the executive order.