The Kissimmee Commission Seat 4 incumbent and a challenger made their way through the Aug. 18 primary and are facing off in the general election runoff for a four-year term in that seat.
The questions below are based on voter questions and expressed priorities. Each of the candidates within a race were asked the same questions and given the same amount of time to respond. The candidates' answers were fact checked and only edited for space considerations.
Janette Martinez
Age: 43
Residence: Kissimmee
Political background: Kissimmee City Commission, 2022-present
Local board/agency background: Help Now, the Osceola Chamber of Commerce, the YMCA, The Mercy Foundation, Building Tiny Hearts, Mission El Jibarito
Why should the voters of your district elect you to another term? I have worked hard to serve Kissimmee with honesty, accessibility, and results. My priority has always been the people of Kissimmee. I have advocated for public safety, responsible budgeting, no unnecessary tax increases, better parks, youth programs, affordable housing opportunities, and stronger infrastructure. I have supported efforts to strengthen public safety, including additional firefighter staffing, and I have worked to protect taxpayers while improving services for residents. I believe Kissimmee needs leaders who listen, show up, and make decisions with the community in mind. That's why I'm proud to say our campaign is the only one endorsed by the Kissimmee Professional Firefighters Union. I am running for re-election to continue the work we started and to make sure Kissimmee remains a safe, affordable, welcoming, and strong city for families, seniors, small businesses, and future generations.
What do you feel are Kissimmee’s three most pressing problems and give a brief explanation of how you’d advocate they’d be solved:
Public safety and emergency response: As Kissimmee grows, our police, fire rescue, emergency response, and public safety infrastructure must grow with it. I will continue supporting responsible investments in fully staffed fire stations, firefighter resources, police services, emergency response, and neighborhood safety.
Housing affordability and housing stability: Kissimmee families are facing rising rents, home prices, insurance costs, and everyday expenses. I have championed The Haven on Vine, a city-owned affordable housing project that provides affordable homes and wraparound services to help tenants remain housed. We must continue this work by supporting attainable housing, strong partnerships, job assistance, and resident services that help people not only find housing but keep it.
Traffic, infrastructure, and responsible growth: Growth must be planned, not just approved. Kissimmee needs better coordination with Osceola County, MetroPlan Orlando, FDOT, LYNX, and regional partners to improve roads, intersections, pedestrian safety, transit options, and traffic flow. I support smart growth that protects existing neighborhoods, strengthens infrastructure, and makes sure development pays its fair share.
According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say housing affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Kissimmee’s affordability issue?
Housing affordability is one of the most serious issues facing Kissimmee families, seniors, working adults, and young people trying to stay in the community they call home. I believe the solution must go beyond simply building housing. We must also provide the support services people need to remain stable, employed, and housed. That is why I am proud to have championed The Haven on Vine. It is about helping tenants access services, job assistance, and support so they can remain housed and move forward with stability. It shows that our city can lead with compassion, innovation, and responsibility. I want to continue taking this work to the next level by expanding partnerships, supporting attainable housing opportunities, and making sure our housing policies include both affordability and long-term stability. Affordable housing cannot be solved by one city alone, but Kissimmee can continue to lead.
Please vote yes or no on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position.
As a sitting City Commissioner, I am not going to tell residents how to vote on a constitutional amendment. That decision belongs to the voters, and I encourage every resident to do their own research, read the full language of the amendment, and understand both the benefits and the consequences before making a decision. I do understand that families need relief. Homeowners are feeling the pressure of rising costs, insurance, housing, and everyday expenses. At the same time, there is no such thing as “free” government services. When revenue is removed from one place, it usually has to be replaced somewhere else, reduced from services, or shifted in another way.
My concern is making sure residents understand the full impact of any major tax change before they vote. My message to voters is simple: please do your research, ask questions, and make an informed decision that protects both your household and the essential services our community depends on.
Tiffany Jeffers
Age: 44
Residence: Kissimmee
Local board/agency background: Chair of the Women in NAACP Committee for the NAACP Osceola Branch, currently on City of Kissimmee Board of Adjustment, Kissimmee School of Government and Police Department Citizens Academy graduate, Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida Board, the Alzheimer’s Association Health Equity Coalition, the Osceola County School District Faith Advisory Group, and the Junior Achievement Leadership Council.
Why should city voters vote for you as a change in leadership, and not the incumbent?
I respect anyone who chooses public service. Kissimmee needs leadership with fresh urgency, accountability, strong community presence, and real access for everyday residents. I am running because families, seniors, young adults, small businesses, and working people deserve a commissioner who is already connected to their needs. I have spent years building partnerships, securing resources, creating programs, and showing up for people across our city.
Kissimmee is growing rapidly, and too many residents still feel left behind. I bring real-life experience, a proven record of service, and the willingness to ask tough questions. Every resident deserves a voice and a fair chance to benefit from Kissimmee’s growth.
What do you feel are Kissimmee’s three most pressing problems and how would you advocate they be solved?
Housing affordability: Kissimmee families are being priced out of the city they love. I would advocate for more workforce and affordable housing, stronger use of city-owned land where appropriate, public-private partnerships, faster review for projects that include real affordability, and more support for seniors, first-time buyers, and renters. I also support preserving existing affordable housing so we do not lose ground while working to build new units.
Workforce development and economic mobility: Too many residents work hard and still cannot afford to live comfortably. I would advocate for job training pipelines tied to local employers, apprenticeships, youth employment, small business support, and partnerships with schools, unions, nonprofits, and the business community.
Aging infrastructure and uneven community investment: Some neighborhoods still deal with flooding, drainage concerns, road issues, limited access to parks, and fewer visible investments. I would advocate for a transparent infrastructure priority list, stronger stormwater planning, regular maintenance schedules, and budget decisions that invest in neighborhoods across the city. Community investment must include safe parks, youth programs, senior services, sidewalks, lighting, drainage, and reliable basic services.
According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say housing affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Kissimmee’s affordability issue?
Kissimmee needs a full affordability strategy that connects housing, wages, transportation, and community services. We need to increase the supply of attainable housing for working families, seniors, young adults, and first-time buyers; protect existing affordable housing; connect housing policy to workforce development as a family cannot afford Kissimmee if wages stay low and costs keep rising; advocate for practical relief programs, including down payment assistance, home repair support for seniors, move-in assistance where legally available, and stronger education around tenant rights, homeownership, and available housing resources.
Please vote yes or no on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position: No, as currently written.
I support real tax relief for homeowners, especially seniors, working families, and residents being squeezed by insurance, housing, and the cost of living. Families need relief, but this amendment is too broad and could create serious challenges for local governments that fund public safety, roads, stormwater, parks, infrastructure, and basic services. Renters also need relief, and this proposal does not directly solve the pressure they face. I would support a more targeted approach that protects homeowners, expands relief for seniors and working families, addresses insurance costs, and keeps cities able to provide the services residents expect.
