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Kissimmee mayor defends city attorney termination citing 'overstated' budget; residents and former colleagues dispute framing
Summary
Mayor Jackie Espinosa said the Feb. termination of the city attorney followed more than a year of concerns about management and alleged overstated legal‑department budgets; public commenters and former colleagues disputed those characterizations and asked for corrections and procedural clarity. The commission appointed Deputy City Attorney Kalanit Oded as interim and directed an external search.
Mayor Jackie Espinosa addressed the commission Feb. 17 to explain her vote to terminate the city attorney, saying the decision was based on "more than a year of observation, growing frustration and disappointment regarding the department's work product, communication and overall operation management." The mayor told the dais she had reviewed budget figures with the city manager and finance director after the termination and described the legal department budget as "overstated" by specific sums.
Multiple public commenters who spoke during the meeting disputed that portrayal and questioned the process. Alex Delaney…
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