ORLANDO — Seven candidates have qualified for next month’s District 5 special election to fill suspended Commissioner Regina Hill’s seat.
Tuesday was the last day for them to qualify.
The official candidates who met the filing deadline are Travaris McCurdy, Cameron Hope, Shan Rose, Lawanna Gelzer, Ericka Dunlap, Tiakeysha Ellison and Miles Mulrain.
Voters will cast their ballots on May 21.
The race comes after Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced he was issuing an executive order to suspend embattled Orlando city Commissioner Regina Hill from office in early April after she was arrested and charged with exploitation and fraud involving a 96-year-old woman.
Hill, who represented District 5, was arrested on March 28 on the following charges:
Three counts of exploitation of an elderly person
One county of enacting a scheme to defraud someone of more than $50,000
One count of fraudulently using someone’s personal identifying information to make a purchase of more than $100,000 in services
One count of fraudulently using personal identification information of a parent/guardian/custodian
One count of mortgage fraud
She was later released on a $40,000 bond.
In his announcement, DeSantis noted that state law allows him to suspend elected municipal officials who have been indicted and charged with a crime.