Questions About Key Witness Could Impact Orlando District 5 Race
- David Washington
- Jul 15
- 3 min read
Don't be surprised by the election's outcome this November. The criminal case against suspended Orlando District 5 Commissioner Regina Hill has taken an interesting turn. Questions are being raised about Sandra Lewis, one of the main witnesses prosecutors plan to use against Hill.
Who Is Sandra Lewis?
Sandra Lewis is a political worker who has been involved in Orlando elections for years. She runs a canvassing business and works as a notary public. In the Hill case, prosecutors need Lewis to testify that Hill faked important legal documents. Lewis's notary stamp was on those papers.
But Hill's lawyers are asking tough questions about Lewis and her work. They want to know if she can be trusted as a witness.
The Problem With Lewis's Story
Here's where things get complicated: Lewis worked for Commissioner Shan Rose, who is running against Hill in November. Records show the city hired Lewis as a temporary aide making $17 per hour in 2024.
But Lewis barely showed up to City Hall. She only badged into the building three times between July and August 2024. After that, she never entered the building again – even though she kept getting paid through early 2025.
Even stranger, 40% of her work hours were on weekends when City Hall was closed. Her Facebook page showed her at campaign events with Rose, but her time sheets didn't match those dates.
What Lewis Said Under Oath
When Hill's lawyers questioned Lewis under oath, she admitted something different than what the paperwork said. She said her real job was "door-to-door canvassing" for Rose's election campaign.
This creates two big problems:
Missing Money Records: Lewis said Rose paid her for campaign work, but Rose's campaign finance reports don't show any payments to Lewis.
Possible Policy Violation: Orlando city workers cannot do campaign work while on the clock. If Lewis was campaigning during city work hours, that would break the rules.
Why This Matters for the Election
These questions about Lewis could change everything in the Hill vs. Rose race in November.
If a judge throws out Lewis's testimony because she's not believable, it would hurt the prosecution's case against Hill. If Hill is found not guilty, she would have a much better chance of winning re-election.
Hill is still popular in her district, despite the criminal charges. Without the cloud of a criminal case hanging over her, she would likely be favored to win.
The Bigger Picture
Lewis has a history of working in Orlando politics. She's been informally accused of "ballot brokering" in past elections – helping people fill out their ballots in ways that might not be legal. Some people in west Orlando have questioned her methods for years.
Despite these concerns, Lewis continued working for political campaigns as recently as the special elections in central Florida on June 24, 2025.
What Happens Next
Hill's legal team is working hard to get Lewis removed as a witness. They say she has been difficult to work with and won't answer important questions about her work history and businesses.
Rose has not responded to questions about why she hired Lewis or whether taxpayer money was used for political work.
The outcome of these legal arguments could decide both Hill's criminal case and the November election in District 5.
The Bottom Line
Politics and criminal cases don't usually mix well. But in Orlando's District 5, they're all tangled up together.
Sandra Lewis was supposed to be a key witness against Regina Hill. But her work for Hill's political opponent, Shan Rose, raises questions about whether she can be trusted.
If Lewis's testimony gets thrown out, it could help Hill beat both her criminal charges and her election opponent. That would be quite a comeback for a commissioner who was suspended from office.
The November election between Hill and Rose was already going to be interesting. Now it might depend on what a judge decides about a witness who worked for both sides.
This article was prepared for The Orlando Voice and J & Washington’s The Blog and The Informer Newsletter, analyzing the implications of recent news related to Orlando’s District 5 electoral future.
David Washington is The Orlando Voice’s Political Manager/Editor and CEO of J & Washington LLC, a political consulting firm specializing in political strategy and public affairs. Join the T8020 Community and discover how tokenized civic engagement is reshaping political participation. Learn more about The Orlando Voice and the T8020 token at T8020Orlando.com.
Sources:
WFTV News report: "Key witness in Hill case worked for political rival – and testified she helped election effort"
Orlando City Hall employment records and time sheets
Court deposition transcripts from Regina Hill criminal case
Campaign finance disclosure reports
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