Polk Elections: Lakeland, Winter Haven, Auburndale, Fort Meade

LAKELAND, FL — Voters in four Polk County cities head to the polls Tuesday, including Lakeland, Winter Haven, Auburndale and Fort Meade.

The polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

LAKELAND

Two commission seats are up for grabs on Tuesday in Lakeland.

Two candidates are vying for the Northeast District B commission seat — Jim Farrell and incumbent Bill "Tiger" Read.

Four candidates are vying for city commission at-large — Chad McLeod, Carole Philipson, Ricky Shirah and Shandale Terrell.

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Voters will also consider three charter amendments:

1. Do you favor an amendment to the Lakeland City Charter eliminating unnecessary or obsolete references and provisions; amending any gender related references; adopting applicable state law provisions; providing periodic commissioner pay adjustments similar to city employees; eliminating reduction in force provisions; creating a charter review committee and providing a periodic charter review process every 8 years; delegating regulation of taxi cabs to the City Commission; eliminating obsolete references to the Hospital Board?
2. Do you favor an amendment to the Lakeland City Charter that reduces the maximum allowable terms of city commissioners and mayor from 4 terms to 3; defining a term as any service in office over 2 years; allowing existing incumbent commissioners to serve a total of 4 terms as commissioner and mayor combined?
3. Do you favor an amendment to the Lakeland City Charter that changes the approval necessary to sell any water plant or electric utility from the existing requirement of 2/3 of all electors qualified to vote to 2/3 vote of the City Commission and 65% of those actually voting in the next general election following City Commission approval?

WINTER HAVEN

Six people are vying to win city commission Seat#1: Nikki Becket, Elizabeth P. Davis, Jonathan "Joey" Hilliard; James Edward Hogan, Tracy-Mercer, William J. Twyford.

Fort Meade

Voters will consider two charter amendments.

1. By law, the Commission is unable to fill a vacant commission seat, creating a 10-month seat vacancy. This amendment begins the commencement date of that current vacant seat earlier but does not change the expiration date. Question ‐ Shall the above‐described amendment be adopted?

2. Currently Fort Meade's Charter declares a vacancy for Commission seat without reference to general law, and conflicts with both state law and the City Code by allowing both a special election and commission appointments to fill vacancies. This amendment declares vacancies for Commission seats based on general law and prior criteria, but permits a simple Commission majority to fill vacancies for the remainder of the term. Question ‐ Shall the above‐described amendment be adopted?

Auburndale

Voters will elect a commissioner for Seat #4. Vying for the post are Tanner Atkinson, Danny Chandler and Jack R. Myers.