The Florida Commission on Ethics found probable cause that Kissimmee Commissioner Janette Martinez failed to file a voting conflict form, then voted to take no further action.

The Florida Commission on Ethics will take no further action on a complaint against Kissimmee City Commissioner Janette Martinez. The commission announced its decision in an Oct. 28 news release covering its Oct. 23 meeting.

Updated Nov. 4: Martinez won the Nov. 3 Seat 4 runoff with 54.5% of the vote, unofficial results show.

The commission found probable cause on one part of the complaint and none on the other. It then voted to take no further action “based on the circumstances of the matter.”

What the commission found

The release said:

  • there was probable cause to believe Martinez failed to file a Form 8B, the state’s memorandum of voting conflict, after she abstained from a vote on a permit requested by a business associate and friend
  • the permit affected a food truck location where Martinez’s own food truck would occasionally operate
  • there was no probable cause to believe she had a conflicting contractual relationship because she rented a home to the friend while the friend’s business was being permitted

The case was Complaint No. 26-146 on the commission’s Oct. 23 agenda. The hearing was held in public session because Martinez waived confidentiality, the release said.

Probable cause is not a finding that a violation happened.

The Nov. 3 runoff

Martinez won the city’s Seat 4 runoff on Tuesday, Nov. 3. She had 8,758 votes, or 54.5%, to Tiffany Jeffers’ 7,310, or 45.5%, with all 22 city precincts reporting. Those are the unofficial results on the Supervisor of Elections’ election night results page, and they stay unofficial until certified. Our election results story has the county races.

In the Aug. 18 general municipal election Martinez had 37.6% of the vote and Jeffers had 28.5%, according to results posted by the Supervisor of Elections. No candidate won a majority, so the race went to a runoff.

The same Oct. 28 release covered Mayor Jackie Espinosa. The commission adopted a joint stipulation in her case and will recommend a $2,000 civil penalty and public censure and reprimand to the governor. That case is separate.

What it means for you

The commission voted to take no further action on this complaint. Martinez holds Seat 4 after the Nov. 3 runoff. Our guide to who to call at City Hall lists every commissioner’s contact details.

If you are named in our coverage and the outcome changes, see how to ask for a correction.