ORLANDO, Fla. — One of the candidates in an Osceola County Commission race is suing her opponents, claiming they were part of a scheme to ensure that she would lose.
Business owner Jackie Espinosa hoped to be a new voice for the Latino community on the County Commission.
But she lost to District 4 incumbent Cheryl Grieb in August.
A third candidate, Carlos Irizarry, was also in the race and got nearly 13% of the vote.
Espinosa claims Irizarry told her he was asked to join the race to draw Latino votes and help Grieb win.
Now Espinosa is suing Irizarry, Grieb and elections officials, alleging Irizarry was a ghost or spoiler candidate.
She claims Irizarry told her “he had been offered money to run against (her)” that “individuals who are paying him to join the race are nervous about losing control”… and that “Irizarry would accept the bribe that he was offered to run for the elected position.”
