After a tense fight over City Hall finances and legal judgment, Kissimmee commissioners on Tuesday turned to a familiar face to steady the ship, naming Deputy City Attorney Kalanit Oded as interim city attorney while they hunt for a permanent replacement.
The move follows a Feb. 3 vote that removed City Attorney Olga Sanchez de Fuentes and kicks off a more formal search for the city's next top lawyer. Commissioners said installing an interim from inside the office is meant to keep legal services running smoothly while they tighten hiring criteria and vet seasoned municipal candidates.
The commission voted unanimously to put Oded in charge in the interim, according to the City of Kissimmee. The city's staff directory lists her as deputy city attorney, notes that she has practiced law for more than 22 years, and says she has served as deputy for more than six years. City officials say she will oversee legal advice to commissioners and departments while the search plays out.
Oded's appointment comes on the heels of a 3-1 commission vote on Feb. 3 to terminate Sanchez de Fuentes. Mayor Jackie Espinosa framed that decision as the result of "ongoing concerns" about responsiveness and legal judgment. Espinosa told the board the city had "overcharged taxpayers $6.2 million" over the past decade, while Sanchez de Fuentes countered that the money remained in the general fund, as reported by WFTV. Several commissioners and residents said they were stunned by the size of the allegation and by how quickly the vote unfolded.
Local coverage and commission records indicate the dispute centered on how budget figures were calculated and presented. Supporters of the former attorney called the $6.2 million claim misleading, according to Positively Osceola. Commissioners weighed three options: termination with cause, termination without cause, or resignation in lieu before ultimately choosing termination without cause. The choice has fueled questions about oversight and how the city tallies legal department spending over multiple fiscal years.
Manager Sets Higher Bar For Next City Attorney
City Manager Mike Steigerwald told commissioners he wants the next city attorney to come in with at least 10 years of municipal or local government experience, a J.D. from an accredited law school, and a clear track record advising elected officials and executive leadership, WESH reported. He also recommended hiring a recruiting firm to assemble a slate of vetted finalists so commissioners can focus on more experienced candidates.
Steigerwald noted that the city charter currently requires only membership in the Florida Bar for the role. Any tougher standards for candidates, he said, would come through local policy rather than a charter change.
Contract Questions And Severance
Before the firing, commissioners were briefed on contract language and the financial stakes involved. Resignation instead of termination could have required forfeiting severance, which is why Sanchez de Fuentes declined an earlier proposal to resign, WFTV reported. The city says it had offered more than the contractually required severance during negotiations before the vote.
In the end, commissioners chose termination without cause and moved quickly to put an interim in place so there would be no gap in legal authority at City Hall.
What Comes Next At City Hall
Commissioners are expected to weigh a proposal to hire an outside search firm and sign off on a revised job posting at an upcoming meeting as they build a list of finalists, WESH reports. Until a permanent city attorney is chosen, Oded will handle the legal workload to keep day-to-day operations on track while residents and staff watch to see how fast the city can land its next top lawyer.
