THE SUN POST DECIDES 2026
The incumbent Seat 4 commissioner answers The Sun Post’s five election questions and outlines an agenda connecting the city’s continued growth with infrastructure, mobility, public safety and affordable housing.
By Marcos A. Tejeda
Publisher & Editor-in-Chief
The Sun Post
Kissimmee’s rapid growth, traffic congestion, housing affordability and the ability of existing infrastructure to accommodate continued development have emerged as major issues ahead of the August 18 municipal election.
For Janette Martinez, the incumbent commissioner seeking to retain Seat 4 on the Kissimmee City Commission, those challenges are closely connected.
Martinez responded to the five questions submitted as part of The Sun Post Decides 2026, giving voters a direct explanation of what she considers the city’s most pressing challenge and the priorities she would pursue if returned to office.
Her answers focus primarily on four areas: public safety, infrastructure and mobility, affordable housing, and responsible growth.
But Martinez enters this discussion from a different position than candidates seeking office for the first time. She is already participating in decisions at City Hall. Her answers repeatedly use the word “continue,” effectively asking voters to judge both what she proposes for the future and the record she has established in office.
1. Kissimmee’s Challenge: Growth Without Sacrificing Quality of Life
Martinez identifies responsible management of the city’s continued growth as Kissimmee’s most significant challenge.
“Kissimmee’s main challenge is managing our growth responsibly without losing the quality of life our residents deserve. Our city is growing, and that growth must be accompanied by adequate infrastructure, public safety, transportation, housing and services.”
Her argument is that development cannot be approved first with infrastructure expected to catch up later.
“We cannot simply approve more development and expect roads, services and infrastructure to catch up afterward. We need planning, coordination with Osceola County and a long-term vision.”
That position raises one of the fundamental questions facing the next City Commission: How much additional development should be approved when existing roads and public services are already under pressure?
Martinez believes long-term planning and greater coordination between Kissimmee and Osceola County must be part of the answer.
2. Her First 100 Days: Safety, Infrastructure and Housing
Asked to identify her three priorities for the first 100 days of another term, Martinez puts public safety first.
“I will continue working to ensure that our police officers, firefighters and emergency services have the resources, personnel and tools necessary to protect our community.”
Her second priority is infrastructure and mobility, including continued street maintenance and repairs and attention to areas experiencing significant congestion.
Housing and quality of life constitute her third priority.
“I will continue advancing solutions to expand affordable housing opportunities, strengthen our neighborhoods and support programs that help families who need them most.”
Martinez says the beginning of a new term should be measured by action rather than campaign rhetoric.
“The first 100 days should not be only about promises. They should be about listening, setting clear goals and beginning to execute.”
Because Martinez already serves on the Commission, however, voters have another measure available to them: they can compare those priorities with her existing record and the decisions made during her current term.
3. Housing: Public-Private Partnerships and Government Resources
On affordable housing, Martinez proposes combining several approaches rather than relying on a single program.
“On housing, we must use public-private partnerships, state and federal resources, and appropriate city-owned properties to increase affordable housing opportunities.”
The proposal is significant because it acknowledges that addressing housing affordability at the municipal level may require multiple funding sources and cooperation between government and private developers.
Martinez also argues that Kissimmee already has housing programs and resources available and should maximize their use.
The next questions are practical ones: How many additional housing units could such an approach produce? Where would they be located? Who would qualify? And how would long-term affordability be protected?
Those are the details through which an election proposal eventually becomes measurable public policy.
4. Growth: Infrastructure Cannot Be an Afterthought
Martinez directly connects development decisions with infrastructure capacity.
“On urban growth, we must require responsible planning and coordination with Osceola County so that new communities have adequate access to infrastructure and services.”
The statement reflects a reality that extends beyond Kissimmee’s municipal boundaries.
Residents regularly travel between the city and other parts of Osceola County, while development, roads and transportation systems frequently involve multiple jurisdictions.
The policy question therefore goes beyond how much Kissimmee should grow. It also involves who should pay for the infrastructure required by that growth and when those improvements should be delivered.
5. Traffic: Roads, Intersections and Public Transportation
On transportation, Martinez proposes continued investment across several areas.
“On traffic, we must continue investing in roads, intersections, public transportation and alternatives such as SunRail.”
She says road and mobility improvement projects are already underway and argues that the city should maintain that commitment.
Her answer recognizes that congestion is unlikely to have a single solution.
Road and intersection improvements may address specific bottlenecks, while public transportation can provide alternatives for certain trips. Many of those solutions, however, depend on agencies and governments outside City Hall.
That makes transportation one of the areas where regional cooperation will remain essential.
What Does Martinez Say Sets Her Apart?
Martinez points to her experience as a small-business owner, mother, community leader and incumbent city commissioner.
“My experience did not begin when I decided to seek public office. I have spent more than two decades working as a small-business owner and serving our community in different capacities.”
She also cites involvement with organizations and boards focused on education, business, youth, social services and community development.
Her experience in office, however, is the most direct distinction in the current race.
“As a commissioner, I have had the opportunity to learn firsthand how municipal government works, how budget decisions are made and the importance of working as a team.”
Incumbency can provide an experience advantage, but it also creates additional accountability.
Unlike a first-time candidate, an incumbent can be evaluated not only on future promises but also on votes, policy decisions and results produced while already holding office.
Her Message to Undecided Voters
Martinez asks residents who remain undecided to examine candidates’ records rather than relying exclusively on campaign advertising.
“To voters who are still undecided, I ask you not to vote based only on a campaign, an advertisement or a promise. Look at the record, the work that has been done and who has been present for the community.”
She says she understands both Kissimmee’s accomplishments and the challenges that remain and identifies public safety, infrastructure, economic opportunity, housing and quality of life as areas where she wants to continue working.
Her appeal is direct:
“If you believe my experience, my work and my commitment represent the future you want for Kissimmee, I ask for your support to continue serving as your commissioner.”
She concludes:
“Serving Kissimmee is not a job for me. It is a privilege.”
What Janette Martinez’s Answers Tell Voters
Martinez’s responses establish a clear foundation for her reelection campaign: continuity centered on public safety, infrastructure, mobility, housing and responsible growth.
They also contain proposals that warrant further examination, including the potential use of city-owned property for affordable housing, public-private partnerships and continued investment in roads, intersections and public transportation.
Because Martinez already serves on the City Commission, however, The Sun Post Decides 2026 believes the next level of scrutiny should go beyond campaign answers.
Voters should also know which measures related to these priorities Martinez has supported during her current term, what projects have been approved, which remain unfinished and what measurable results can be associated with decisions made by the Commission.
That distinction can help voters separate what is being proposed for the next term from what can already be evaluated through the public record.
The Seat 4 Race Begins to Take Shape
Martinez is not the only Seat 4 candidate who has responded to the The Sun Post Decides 2026 questionnaire.
Tiffany Jeffers has also submitted answers to the same five questions.
That gives this newspaper an important opportunity before August 18: voters will be able to examine competing candidates responding to identical questions under the same editorial conditions.
The remaining Seat 4 candidates continue to have the same opportunity to participate. Any responses received will be published under equal editorial standards.
The Sun Post Decides 2026 does not exist to select the next commissioner for Kissimmee.
Our responsibility is to ask questions, investigate the answers, examine the public record and provide residents with the information they need to make their own decision.
On August 18, that decision belongs to the voters of Kissimmee.
