Mildred Fernandez is home from prison.
The former Orange County mayoral candidate and commissioner is breaking her silence about life in prison and what she's doing now.
"I feel very, very good. I am very happy to be back," said Fernandez.
In February 2012, Fernandez listened as a judge sentenced her to 22 months in prison.
"I had such a big peace," said Fernandez. "Would you believe that I did not hear even the judge talking?"
Fernandez was released from a St. Petersburg Work Release Center on Sept. 9. She is now enjoying her new role as full-time grandma and writing a book.
"It's going to have the political side and the legal side," said Fernandez. "Because in talking to my lawyers, this was an exceptional case and this has to be written about."
Fernandez said she has already retained someone to help her write the book.
Fernandez was arrested in 2010 after she was caught accepting an envelope full of cash in exchange for favors on a new development project in her district.
"All candidates receive envelopes," said Fernandez. "And when the undercover officer tells me this is a contribution to your campaign, it never goes into my mind that somebody is going to hurt me. What the video doesn't show is that I never open that envelope so I never knew what was inside the envelope."
Life will be tough financially for Fernandez. She's living off social security and pension from her former employer, IBM. She still owes around $15,000 in fines.
Despite her money issues, Fernandez said she's championed her biggest challenge, which was months in prison and a Work Release Center for a crime she still said she didn't commit.
Fernandez said she hated the separation from her family in prison, but she learned a lot from the other inmates.
The first thing Fernandez did after getting out? Having a glass of champagne and a trip to the beauty parlor.
"You know that's a big important thing in our lives," said Fernandez.
When asked if she would ever run for political office again, Fernandez said it is certainly not in her immediate future.