Polk County Runoff Election Results: Lakeland, Winter Haven

LAKELAND, FL — The polls closed at 7 p.m. Tuesday in Polk County as voters in Lakeland and Winter Haven cast their ballots in special runoff elections.

Here are the runoff races and unofficial results as they come in:

LAKELAND

Lakeland voters chose between Chad McLeod and Carole Philipson for City Commissioner At-Large #2.

With 25 of 25 precincts reporting, McLeod appeared to defeat Philipson by a margin of 54.8 percent of the vote to 45.2 percent based on unofficial totals.

A native of Polk County, McLeod is the owner and president of McLeod Communications, a public relations and communications consulting firm based in downtown Lakeland.

Philipson is a former vice president at three major health systems, including Lakeland Regional Health, where she worked for 15 years. She also serves as a board member of multiple community organizations.

Click here for more information on the Lakeland runoff election. Click here to view a sample ballot.

WINTER HAVEN

Voters in Winter Haven chose between L. Tracy Mercer and incumbent William J. Twyford in the race for city commission Seat #1.

With six of six precincts reporting, Mercer appeared to best Twyford by a margin of 54.8 percent to 45.16 percent of the vote based on unofficial totals.

Mercer is the owner of Mer-Trac Group and is a former director of public utilities with the city of Clearwater. She has also worked for the city of Winter Haven, the city of Marion, Ohio and the Charlotte County Government in Port Charlotte.

Twyford was the incumbent who was elected to his seat in 2015.

Betsy Cleveland of the Polk County Supervisor of Elections Office told Patch the results from the Nov. 5 municipal elections have been certified and are posted here.