Three Democrats will face off this month in a county-wide open primary for the County Commission district 4 seat: Kissimmee businesswoman Jackie Espinosa, incumbent Cheryl Grieb, and former Kissimmee city commissioner Carlos Irizarry.
Jackie Espinosa, 53, said she’s running because “our community has evolved.”
“I say that all the time. We need someone that can connect with the community, and create a better vision for the community. Osceola’s in crises —a traffic crisis, a housing crisis. And if we don’t start paying attention, it’s not going to get any better. I think we just need a new vision for where we’re going.
“I feel like current elected officials just put their hands up and say, well, that’s the government. Well, we are the government. Why can’t we change that? And so when the current officials are all like, well, it is what it is, but that’s just not good enough when you’ve got people moving here and continuing to move here, that’s not slowing down. It’s just that we’re always putting the horse before the cart, and it shouldn’t be that way.”
1. We’re still recovering from the pandemic. What would a complete recovery look like as it pertains to the county?
Right now, Osceola County is still feeling the economic impact of the pandemic more than anything. This is not a short term issue, especially with the impact of a looming national recession, out of control rising cost for food, gas and housing in our county. So first, as a commissioner I would love to see a rent increase cap ordinance passed similar to the one in Miami-Dade which Orange County recently adopted. Another barometer would be the staffing shortage for small businesses must level out as well. Right now, being a restaurant owner, we are still struggling to stay fully staff even with a recent hike to the state minimum wage. I am optimistic that I can contribute based on my professional background to help stabilize our local economy and help with long term strategic planning to ensure the county is on a better footing if another natural or medical disaster occurs again.
2. Far more residents leave Osceola County for work than work in-county (or residents elsewhere come here to work). How can the county attract more businesses to come to Osceola and set up shop?
We must really be “OPEN” for business. The county in 2014, made a huge gamble with taxpayer funds on the NeoCity project. We have been promised a huge success in 50 years according to the current county administration and board. I am concerned because after eight years since the inception of the project and $275 million of hard earned tax dollars spent, we have seen this project bear little to no fruit for the taxpayers. Let’s be honest, NeoCity MUST work with how much taxpayer funds have been invested and honestly it all starts with having a real business plan with key benchmarks identified, short/medium/long term financial forecast put in place and most importantly; an exit strategy. Right now all the county has is the NeoCity Master Plan which is only for development, this is inadequate for building an economic driver promised by the current County Manger. Side note: I would also go to Austin, TX to try and recruit a person from their leadership team which has made their Advance Manufacturing facility a success. In business we always say “WHY RECREATE THE WHEEL!”
As for small businesses, we must use our tax incentives such as impact fee buy downs for new businesses attempting to open their doors in Osceola County. Why should developers be the only entities who get special treatment? I would additionally suggest we team with our incorporated cities (Kissimmee and St. Cloud) to work in partnership instead of always being in competition. I would make a motion to have more equitable revenue sharing for resources like Tourism Development Dollars (to attract tourist based businesses and fund marketing) and give a more equitable share of the current 1% Infrastructure Sales Surtax which is going to the voters for reauthorization.
3. Speaking of who’s moving around, can you talk a bit about what the county has done to address infrastructure, and what you believe needs to be done next?
I would give the county a grade of “D” when it comes to addressing the infrastructure planning. When the developers for Kindred and Tohoqua paid $0 for their impact to Neptune Road, and those cost savings were never passed on to the homebuyer, it really is a microcosm of why we have our current traffic crisis in the county.
I know the county recently bonded $220M using the Osceola Parkway toll revenue for 30 years to fund the widening of Neptune Road, Simpson/Boggy Creek Road but lets be real, this is too little, too late with more housing developments in the pipeline for these areas.
My motion as the next County Commissioner for District 4 would be a 3-year moratorium on land use changes from Agriculture/Conservation zone land to any density residential. There is NO statutory requirement which forces the county to approve land use changes even if it is identified in the Future Land Use Map (FLUM). The county cannot deny a developer only if the plans are within a residential zoned property. So, during this 3 year pause, I would urge my Board to instruct County staff to author a “County Infrastructure Strategic Plan” which identifies all county traffic choke points, game plans a solution and identifies dedicated funding source for each project
4. What should the leading consideration be when the county considers vendors and other business contracts?
First, I believe we should have a weighted procurement scoring system to include set aside contracts for veteran owned small businesses, women owned small businesses and minority owned small businesses. Right now, the County spends over $200M in purchasing goods and services annually and the amount going to local small businesses is inadequate. Right now, we have a system where Commissioner’s family businesses are winning repeated no-bid contracts and businesses which are high dollar political donors to Commissioners are next in line. I believe Commissioner’s should disclose who are donors before making votes when it comes to awarding County contracts for transparency purposes to the citizens.
Additionally, I think Companies which low ball bid and submit change orders which are NOT requested by the County, should be penalized and repeat offense should bar them from future contracts.
5. What boards or local organizations have you sat on or joined that would enhance your abilities on the County Commission?
Executive Board - Secretary for The Transition House - Osceola 2019-present
Planning Advisory Board member - City of Kissimmee since 2017
Chair for Kissimmee Main Street 2018-2019
City of Kissimmee Planning Advisory Board 2017-present
City of Kissimmee – Affordable Housing Committee 2018-present
Osceola County - Affordable Housing Committee 2020-present
Osceola County Charter Review Committee 2021-present
Member of Florida MBA 1995 -2022
Member of NAMB 1995 -2022
Member of NDCA 2008-2022
Cheryl Grieb, 55, the incumbent, is running for a third term on the Commission.
“For me, running again has to do with trying to make sure certain projects are moving forward, such as Neptune Road, because they were supposed to widen it almost 20 years ago. It even got down to the design, I was notified my house got taken — and then they diverted the funds to another project,” she said. “And of course, that’s a key access point between Kissimmee and St. Cloud.
“I’m working with some developers for NeoCity and we have that 25 acres under contract, which will bring money back into the coffers of the taxpayers. I want to make sure that moves forward as well. Before I was in office, we had no affordable housing projects. We had hardly any road projects, and now we’ve got $2.5 billion worth in a road projects. We’ve been putting over 100 homes in affordable housing every year. And so to make sure that that good work that we’ve begun continues because it just takes one change on a board and all that can be different.”
The biggest problem that Grieb hopes to help solve is traffic, she said.
“That’s why we have the $2.5 billion worth of roads going,” she said. “We have the highest impact fees. We changed the way developers get a credit so now it’s a one-for-one credit where before they were getting a bit of a windfall, which is not fair. And of course, having decent, safe, affordable places for people to live is another big item.”
1. We’re still recovering from the pandemic. What would a complete recovery look like as it pertains to the county?
Recovery would involve a time when rent assistance and business assistance is no longer required. A time where people can afford to house and feed their families and businesses are not struggling and are back up to normal capacity and workforce. It would also mean that tourism is strong, and our resorts and hotels are doing well.
2. Far more residents leave Osceola County for work than work in-county (or residents elsewhere come here to work). How can the county attract more businesses to come to Osceola and set up shop?
I believe the key is to attract the right type of jobs that pay enough for our citizens not to have to live paycheck to paycheck. Osceola County already has an incentive program to attract key industries and to incentivize companies to move their headquarters here.
Part of the strategy for economic development has been to diversify our economy and create a tech hub with high wage jobs which is part of the vision for NeoCity.
3. Speaking of who’s moving around, can you talk a bit about what the county has done to address infrastructure, and what you believe needs to be done next?
Prior to my election into office, our roads and other infrastructure did not seem to be a priority. This has been completely turned around and now we have nearly $2.5 Billion in road/transportation projects. Along with the road construction (with many projects staring construction this year), there are some utility upgrades that will take place at that time. It takes a government entity between 7-8 years from identification of a road project to PD&E, to design, to acquisitions, to construction and finally completion. We are on a good track now that we have re-focused infrastructure as a top priority. We also have the highest impact fees in the state to force developers to pay for needed infrastructure. We changed the way developers receive impact fee credits. They used to get a credit which many times was greater than their cost of construction. Now, they received a credit for the actual amount of construction. This is a benefit to the county and its citizens as most of the time, developers can build a road faster and for less money than the county due to our processes and bid requirements.
4. What should the leading consideration be when the county considers vendors and other business contracts?
Some contracts have State or Federal guidelines that we have to follow. For local contracts, I feel giving our local vendors a preference helps our local economy. Minority owned businesses as well would get additional points in my opinion. Of course, we always have to consider the cost of the project/contract, and time to complete the project, and the vendor’s overall qualifications as part of the process.
5. What boards or local organizations have you sat on or joined that would enhance your abilities on the County Commission?
• 2018 Chairperson of MetroPlan Orlando and 2019 past Chairperson and current member
• 2021 to present Peace and Justice Institute Advisory Council member
• 2020 to present Affordable Housing Advisory Committee for Osceola County
• 2020 Vice-Chair of the Osceola County Board of County Commissioners
• 2019 Chairwoman of the Osceola County Board of County Commissioners
• 2018 LGBT Trailblazer Award
• 2019 to present Member of the Central Florida Commission on Homelessness
• 2020 Member and past Vice Chairwoman Nine County Coalition
• 2018 National Association of REALTORS Public Policy Coordinating Committee
• 2018 Public Policy Committee member for Florida Realtors
• 2015 to 2020 WRAC committee member for SFWMD
• 2015- 2017 NAR Smart Growth Advisory Board Member
• 2015-2021 Nine County Coalition Board Member
• 2016-2021 State and Local Taxation Breakout Group (Legislative Think Tank)
• 2014-2017 Osceola Resort Area Council member for the Chamber
• 2013-2014 Chair for GOPEP (Greater Osceola Partnership fo2018r Economic Prosperity)
• 2014 Member of the Local Taxation Subcommittee for the Florida REALTORS
• 2011 Vice-Chair of the Osceola County Tourist Development Council
• 2011 Vic-Chair of the East Central Florida Regional Planning Council and current member
• 2011 Legislative Committee member for the Florida REALTORS
• 2008 Member of Community Vision
• 2008 Director of the Osceola County Association of Realtors
• 2007 Member of Local Issues Committee for the Osceola County Association of Realtors dealing with affordable housing and other local issue
• 2006 Downtown Area Council Chamber of Commerce Chairperson and current member
• 2006 Affordable Housing Incentive Strategies Ad-Hoc Committee Member
• 2005-2006 Member of the Hwy 192 Redevelopment task force for the City of Kissimmee.
• 2005 Smart Growth Chairperson for the Florida Association of REALTORS and current member
• 2006 Vice-Chairperson of Angling Against Cancer that benefits The V Foundation for cancer research.
• 2004-2005 Trustee Committee Chairperson for the Osceola County Association of REALTORS.
• 2005 appointed member of the Tax Work Group for the Florida Association of REALTORS.
• 2005-2006 Board Member of the Community Redevelopment Agency for the City of Kissimmee
• Osceola County Association of REALTORS (OSCAR)- Member and approved Instructor for brokers and associates
• Kissimmee Preservation Board, Member 2000-2004.
• 2003 Florida Association of REALTORS (FAR) District Vice-President for Osceola, Orange and Seminole Counties
• President of the Osceola County Association of REALTORS, 2000-2001.
• Habitat for Humanity of Osceola County, Inc., Co-founder and Past President
• Florida Trust for Historic Preservation, Member
• “Save the Historic Osceola High School Task Force”- Appointed Leader by Board of Osceola County Commissioners 2000-2005.
• HOME (Helping Others Make an Effort) Program Land Acquisition Task Force, Member.
• Osceola County Parks and Recreation Committee, Member 1991-1999.
Carlos Irizarry said he should be elected as a change of leadership because “this county is trying to build without planning.”
“(My challengers) are realtors, both of them. One is a mortgage broker and the other one a realtor, they make money from building homes,” he said. “When I was member of the City Commission and county Planning Commission Board, 98% of the people complained about traffic, about roads.
“The questions I want to try to present if I get elected: Do we have enough water? Do we have enough power? Do we have enough classrooms? Do we have enough roads? Do we have enough police officers? Do we have enough fire departments? Before you build apartments, before you build a home. Why are we not planning the access? Nobody thinks about it. In the next five or 10 years, are we going to have enough water or power to supply that demand of the 300 homes?”
The most pressing issue that Irazarry hopes to help is the economy, he said.
“The people are suffering the economy in all levels. Can we provide more affordable homes? Can we partner a little bit more with the city of Kissimmee? Can we do that?”
1. We’re still recovering from the pandemic. What would a complete recovery look like as it pertains to Kissimmee?
“We need to put on hold some develop and construction, till we have better picture about the pandemic. At the last medical report we have more cases and a new pandemic is targeting our community.”
2. What has been successful in bringing new business to Kissimmee, and what more (or new) can be done?
“We need to focus on our resident, income, education in that why we may have better ideas what type of business we can offer.”
3. Affordable housing and homelessness have long been issues in the city, which has addressed them in the past. What are the best ways to continue that push?
“The county need to concentrate a little bit on planning more than developing. I believe that because my opponents are in the real estate business, the priority is different, they make money on sale property, not me. I am in management industry, 40 hours a week minimum wage and retire, suffering all bad decisions that the commission taking on a regular day by day family.”
4. What should the leading consideration be when the city considers vendors and other business contracts?
“Experience time on the business, no conflict of interest with any commissioner or staff.”
5. What boards or local organizations have you sat on or joined that would enhance your abilities on the commission?
“Former Kissimmee city commissioner, Eagle Scout, former member, Orlando MetroPlan, former member Osceola Planning Commission board, former member fire and rescue, former member code enforcement, former member transition home, former member head start, and education foundation.”
6. Is there anything else that I didn’t ask that you want to address?
“I will bring to the commission news ideas how to plan better before continue to build and partner more with the city’s on affordable home”
