Party: Republican
Age: 75
Campaign website: voteolgagonzalez.com
Occupation: Nonprofit founder and volunteer community-service leader, Church & Community Assistance Program, Inc. (CCAP)
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Residence: Kissimmee
Political background: Kissimmee City Commissioner, 2016–20 First Latina elected mayor of Kissimmee, 2020-24
Local board/agency background: Former ex officio member of the Kissimmee Utility Authority Board of Directors; Osceola Homeless Task Force, City of Kissimmee, Housing; Osceola Council on Aging Board of Directors; Lakeside Estates homeowners association board leadership.
Why should the voters of your district elect you as a candidate of change?
I am asking voters to bring my experience and commitment to service to the Osceola County Commission. I served eight years in Kissimmee city government and have spent more than 27 years helping local families through CCAP.
I understand the challenges facing working families, seniors, small businesses, and people struggling to keep a roof over their heads. My priorities are responsible spending, affordable housing, safer communities, and growth that benefits existing residents. I will listen, ask difficult questions, and hold county government accountable for results. Public office is an opportunity to serve, and I will bring that commitment to District 2.
What do you feel are Osceola County’s three most pressing problems and give a brief explanation of how you’d advocate they’d be solved:
Housing affordability and housing instability: I will advocate for more housing that working families and seniors can afford, faster and more predictable permitting, and partnerships with builders and nonprofit housing providers. Public incentives should include enforceable affordability requirements. I would also strengthen eviction-prevention efforts and connect families to employment and housing services before a temporary setback becomes homelessness.
Traffic and infrastructure keeping pace with growth: I would advocate for road, drainage, and transportation improvements based on clear priorities and measurable results. Development decisions must account for infrastructure capacity, and new development should contribute its fair share of legally authorized infrastructure costs. We must coordinate with cities and transportation agencies to improve daily travel for residents.
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Household financial pressure and access to opportunity: I would support workforce training, apprenticeships, small-business development, and stronger connections between employers and job seekers. Reliable transportation and access to childcare are essential to helping people work. I would also review county spending carefully and improve coordination among service providers so resources reach families effectively.
What are your solutions for Florida’s housing affordability issue?
We need to increase housing choices while helping residents remain in their homes. I would support appropriately located starter homes, townhomes, apartments, and senior housing, with infrastructure planned alongside development.
I would advocate for efficient permitting, rehabilitation of existing housing, and partnerships that produce lasting affordability. State and federal housing funds should be used with transparent reporting and clear outcomes. I would also work with state leaders on insurance affordability and support homebuyer education and foreclosure prevention. Families need a realistic path to stable housing and, when possible, homeownership.
Please vote yes or no on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position:
Yes.
Through my years of serving our community, I have seen how difficult it is for seniors on fixed incomes and working families to keep up with housing costs. Expanding the homestead exemption would provide meaningful property-tax relief and help homeowners remain in their homes. I also believe tax relief must go hand in hand with responsible budgeting. As a county commissioner, I would review spending carefully, reduce waste, and prioritize essential services such as law enforcement, fire rescue, roads, and drainage. My goal is to help residents keep more of their hard-earned money while protecting the services our community depends on.
What do you think is the biggest environmental issue the County Commission should address in Osceola County?
Protecting water quality and managing flooding as Osceola County grows. Our lakes, wetlands, and drinking-water resources are essential to residents’ health, recreation, and quality of life. I would advocate for stronger coordination on stormwater management, maintenance of drainage systems, wetland protection, and development decisions that account for flood risk. Preventing environmental damage is more responsible and less costly than asking taxpayers to repair it later.
This Voter Guide was produced by the News Collaborative of Central Florida, a collective of independent local news outlets and aligned partners working toward a more informed and engaged Central Florida. Questions for the candidates were created by members of the collaborative and shared with candidates to answer. Attempts were made to contact all candidates to answer our questions – many responded but some did not. If a candidate did not respond, we have done our best to provide answers to our questions based on candidates’ websites, social media posts or public comments. For more information about the News Collaborative of Central Florida, click here.
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