“VOTERS WILL DECIDE ON TWO COMMISSION SEATS & THREE CHARTER AMENDMENTS“
“PHILLIP WALKER ELECTED WITHOUT OPPOSITION FOR NW DISTRICT“
The City of Lakeland will hold a municipal election on Tuesday, November 5th. After qualifying has ended, there are two City Commission seats and three amendments to the City’s Charter on the upcoming ballot. Phillip Walker was elected without opposition for the Northwest District A City Commission Seat. The following persons qualified to appear on November 5, 2019, Lakeland Municipal Ballot:
Northeast District B
Jiwa Farrell Meet the Candidate
Bill “Tiger” Read (Incumbent) Meet the Candidate
At-Large #2
Chad McLeod
Carole Philipson
Ricky Shirah
Shandale Terrell
Randy Wilkinson
Register to Vote
Seven Polk County organizations will join in a nationwide effort to register voters on Tuesday, September 24th in celebration of National Voter Registration Day. The Polk County Supervisor of Elections, The League of Women Voters of Polk County, Lakeland NAACP, Lake Wales NAACP, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., Polk County Voter’s League and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority will set up voter registration tables at eleven locations around Polk County.
New voters will have the opportunity to register to vote and current voters will be able to update their record if they’ve moved or changed their name. October 7th is the deadline to register to vote in Polk County’s November 5th Municipal Elections in Auburndale, Fort Meade, Lakeland and Winter Haven.
Charter Amendments
The November 5th City of Lakeland ballot will also include language regarding possible changes to the City Charter on three separate items. Voters are encouraged to educate themselves about each charter change. The first amendment to the Charter is about eliminating obsolete provisions. The second amendment to the Charter refers to City Commission term limits and the third amendment to the Charter changes the requirements necessary to sell City owned utility assets. Below is the actual language that will be on the ballot:
An amendment to the Charter to eliminate obsolete provisions, eliminate gender references; other miscellaneous provisions.
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?
Yes_____ No_____
An amendment reducing terms for commissioners/mayor from 4 to 3; not applicable to incumbents.
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?
Yes_____ No_____
An amendment changing the requirements necessary to sell any City water plant or electric utility.
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?
Yes_____ No_____
Registered City of Lakeland voters are encouraged to decide on representation for the At Large Seat and the Northeast Seat on the City Commission as well as the three proposed City Charter changes. Please visit http://www.lakelandgov.net/departments/city-clerk/elections to learn about the candidates running for election.