A status hearing in the open criminal felony case against suspended Commissioner and current candidate Regina Hill is set just days before the Orlando election.
The criminal felony charges against Regina Hill (listed below) are the reason she was suspended and removed from her position as Orlando City Commissioner by Governor Ron DeSantis. She is currently running against Interim Commissioner Shan Rose, who was elected after Hill was removed, and community activist Lawanna Gelzer.
Yes, the City of Orlando has an active candidate and suspended Commissioner running for public office while facing seven serious felony charges, including exploitation of an elderly or disabled person, scheme to defraud, and fraud. As voters are currently filling out vote-by-mail ballots and preparing for early vote and Election Day on November 4th, Regina Hill is campaigning for votes while hoping her legal team can keep her out of prison. The upcoming status hearing is set for October 24th.
Regina Hill faces the following serious felony charges from the state of Florida, according to the Orange County Clerk of Courts records:
- EXPLOITATION OF ELDERLY PERSON OR DISABLED PERSON >$50,000 (BREACH POWER OF ATTORNEY) Statute: 825.103(3)(A) First Degree – Felony
- EXPLOITATION OF ELDERLY OR DISABLED PERSON >=$50,000 (POSITION OF TRUST AND CONFIDENCE) Statute: 825.103(3)(A) First Degree – Felony
- EXPLOITATION OF ELDERLY OR DISABLED PERSON >=$50,000 (INTENTIONALLY OR NEGLIGENTLY MISUSE) Statute: 825.103(3)(A) First Degree – Felony
- SCHEME TO DEFRAUD OF $50,000 OR MORE Statute: 817.034(4)(A)(1) First Degree – Felony
- FRAUDULENT USE OF PERSON IDENTIFICATION OVER $100,000 Statute: 817.568(2)(C) First Degree – Felony
- FRAUDULENT USE OF PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION – PARENT / GUARDIAN / CUSTODIAN Statute: 817.568(7) Second Degree – Felony
- MORTGAGE FRAUD (GREATER THN $100,000) Statute: 817.545(2) Second Degree – Felony
Hill pleaded not guilty to all charges and denies all allegations against her related to the criminal charges.
Typically, a status hearing is a preliminary meeting to check on the progress of the case and manage scheduling. It could discuss potential resolutions but it is not a trial, the judge should be moving the case forward and addressing any issues. Hill’s supporters, and even the defendant and candidate herself, have stated she will be totally exonerated. Some of her supporters believe she will not even face trial.
The case is open with Judge Michael Kraynick, and there is no current trial date set on the court docket at this time, according to Orange County Clerk of Court records. The potential trial was delayed in 2024 and again in 2025 as the judge scheduled and cancelled on numerous occasions throughout the judicial process.
The District 5 election in Orlando is a hotly contested race between suspended former Commissioner Regina Hill, Interim Commissioner Shan Rose, and community activist Lawanna Gelzer. Her opponents believe the charges alone are disqualifying to serve in public office, and there is no assurance Republican Governor Ron DeSantis would not suspend her again even if she wins the election, especially if the case remains open.
Election Day for the upcoming Orlando municipal election for District 5 City Commissioner is November 4, 2025 and polls will be open 7am to 7pm. Early Voting will be October 27th to November 2nd at select times at the Orange County Supervisor of Elections office on Kaley St. The deadline to request a vote-by-mail ballot is October 23rd.
