First and foremost, I have the time and resources that allows me the time to serve the citizens of Lakeland as the NE District City Commissioner.
This is not a part-time job, anyone who tells you that has not sat in a commissioner’s chair.
If you ask the other commissioners, I am sure they will attest of what I am saying is true.
I am a Commercial realtor and have the luxury of owning my own company. Harper-Read Realty Group Inc.
I am a lifelong resident of Polk County, moved to Lakeland in 1958 from Frostproof.
Attended Elementary, Junior High and High School in Lakeland.
Went to Polk Community College and Graduated from the University of Central Florida.
I am married for 39 years, to the same woman, have 2 daughters, both graduated from the Polk County school system and both graduated from USF.
I consider myself a conservative. If you wish to review my city voting history you will note that I voted to hold down property taxes. I too feel your pain, as a property owner.
I am an advocate for retaining our college graduates to Lakeland upon their graduation. We are fortunate to have over 20,000 college students in Lakeland attending, PSC, FSC, SEU and
Fla Poly University combined. I am for incentives, to companies who wish to hire our graduates at a wage of 130% over the median wage of Polk County.
Our centralized location, in this fine state, encourages distribution jobs. However, diversification, in job opportunities, is a requirement to meet the needs of our citizens. The Lakeland Regional Airport is finding its place. Over the last several years we have made the necessary choices and investments to bring higher salaried and more technically skilled opportunities to Lakeland.
There is much more to be accomplished. Our traffic is becoming an issue, our lakes are becoming overgrown, our infract-structure is in need of repair, our water and sewer rates keep growing. While I vote to keep them in check, my fellow commissioner voted to give Lakeland Regional a $46 million reduction in their lease payment, I was the lone vote against it. I voted to keep the Munn Park statue there. I voted to not spend public funds to have it relocated yet I was unsuccessful.
I am here to serve you, as a general rule, I do not vote as I would for myself, but what the citizen tell me they want.
I want you to vote for me, I am asking for your vote so that I might serve you 4 more years and help Lakeland remain, ” Close to everything and next to perfect”.
Bill Tiger Read