Two days after voters in Orlando’s District 5 decided to keep interim Commissioner Shan Rose in her seat, Rose’s opponent has signaled she plans to contest the results of the election.
“I’m concerned about the integrity of District 5’s race,” said Regina Hill, the former city commissioner, as she visited the Orange County Supervisor of Elections office Thursday.
Gov. Ron DeSantis removed Hill from her seat on the Orlando City Council in 2024 after she was arrested and charged in connection with the alleged exploitation of an elderly woman.
Hill has maintained her innocence and charged ahead with a campaign to try to reclaim her old seat.
[BELOW: Regina Hill arrested on charges of elderly exploitation and mortgage fraud]
Tuesday night’s unofficial results, however, showed Rose defeating Hill, 51.84% to 32.71%.
In a Facebook Live video posted late Tuesday night, Hill told supporters at her Election Night gathering that she would be asking for a recount.
Florida law does not give candidates the authorization to request a recount.
Undeterred, Hill visited the Supervisor of Elections office to ask employees inside about Orlando’s canvassing board and its plans to meet Friday morning.
“I’m just coming to get more information about the canvassing board,” Hill told media gathered outside the building.
Without providing evidence, Hill claimed that people associated with the Rose campaign were engaging in illicit ballot harvesting practices.
When News 6 pressed Hill to offer proof of her claims, she declined.
“I’m going to wait until I review the signatures tomorrow, verify the signatures, and then I’ll turn over the information that I’ve gathered,” Hill said.
Inside the building, Hill commended employees for the work they did during the election before asking them questions related to the canvassing board and voting by mail.
She signaled that she would return Friday morning, when the canvassing board will certify the results of Tuesday’s elections.
Florida statute does state that within 10 days of the certification of an election, a candidate is permitted to file in circuit court a complaint contesting the results.
News 6 reached out to Rose following Hill’s visit Thursday.
Rose responded by attaching her social media post from Tuesday night, in which she thanked the voters of District 5 and congratulated her opponents, Hill and Lawanna Gelzer for “running strong campaigns and for their commitment to our city.”
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