The Lakeland Gazette asked the four candidates the following question:
1) Why should the voters vote for you?
2) What is your platform?
3) CO-VID 19 question …. What your opinion on wearing masks?
4) What is your vision for Lakeland for the future?
Mike Musick
1) The voters of Lakeland should vote for me as their candidate as I am the most conservative candidate on the list. With over 20 years of experience in business and understanding what it takes to hire sometimes fire and to make payroll. Hard decisions sometimes need to be made and although I may not like it I will make those hard decisions.
2) A) conservative fiscally responsible direction focusing on needed infrastructure to promote business growth
B) Continue to push for transparency and openness in city issues.
C) A champion for businesses both small and large to have access and support from Lakeland and its business assets.
3) I believe and support individual freedom. If a private company requires a mask for entry I always have one in my pocket and will respect their request. If it is optional I choose not to wear a mask. Never should we trample on another’s freedom if they feel the need to or not to wear a mask.
4) My vision for Lakeland is a place where people are drawn to make this area their home for generations. A place where businesses thrive and salaries are competitive from entry to the professional level. Where the citizens have faith that their taxes and fees are used wisely and conservatively. A place where safety is felt and our quality of life is second to none. This is a vision for Lakeland that is both attainable and within grasp. I am the candidate best suited to champion this vision of Lakeland
Dr. Shandale Terrell
1) Why should the voters vote for you?
As a lifelong resident of Lakeland, I love my hometown and want the best for all citizens. I am community driven and believe that we can all make a difference here. I serve on several Community Advisory Boards and Committees, which are the following:
- I served as a Committee Member for the City of Lakeland, Citizens Advisory Committee, addressing the citizens’ concerns within the City of Lakeland.
- I served as a Committee Member for the City of Lakeland, Citizens Advisory Budget Committee, assisting with the City of Lakeland Budget process.
- I served as a Board of Directors for the City of Lakeland Police Athletic League (PAL) Youth Leadership Program. Working with inner City youth in the urban Lakeland core.
- I am a member of the City of Lakeland, Gang Task Force Committee. Enhancing the Quality of Life for the all citizens in Lakeland.
- I am the Chairman of the City of Lakeland, Lakeland Police Advisory Board. Bridging the Gap between Lakeland Police Law Enforcement Department and citizens in our community.
My community engagement allows me to continually keep my hand and heart on the pulse of our community. Voting for me means that you will be represented by someone who is already at work for the citizens in the City of Lakeland.
2) What is your platform?
I know the problems that face the citizens of our community, because I’ve faced those similar problems myself. Citizens deserve an equal chance and an opportunity on the path to success, and I intend to let them earn that chance. My platform is simply about making Lakeland the best home for all of us by:
- Creating Equal Opportunities For All Citizens.
- Expanding the Business Community, especially our Small Business Community which was grossly impacted by the pandemic.
- Providing Good Paying Living Wage Jobs.
- Ensuring that Lakeland is a Safe Place to Live.
- Ensuring a well Educated Workforce is employed throughout the City of Lakeland, Florida.
3) COVID-19 question. What is your opinion on wearing masks?
We must follow the science of the pandemic and work together to protect ourselves, family and our peers. The CDC guidance is there as a measure of protection and to mitigate the transmission of this virus. In order to return to our pre-COVID-19 lives and save lives, wearing masks is essential, including in large crowd gatherings.
4) What is your vision for Lakeland for the future?
My vision is to enhance the City of Lakeland by:
- Ensuring we have good living wage paying jobs for all citizens.
- Redeveloping areas of the City of Lakeland that have been impacted by blight and deterioration.
- Enhance the beautification planning and development, which will enhance the quality of life for all citizens in the City of Lakeland.
Kenneth Post
Ken Post Runs for City of Lakeland Commissioner for the SE District D
Twenty years ago, Ken Post bought a house next door to his parents in Lakeland. A year and a half ago, it became the Post’s family home.
In 2019, Post left a successful career in elderly care in New Jersey and moved his family to Lakeland to care for his mother, Barbara. “It has become increasingly common for working adults to be caught between the joys and challenges that come with raising children and caring for their parents,” Post says. “We have had to be creative in coming up with solutions to ensure my mom has the services and care that she needs and that our daughter grows up in a nurturing environment. It does take a village!”
Post, 55, who has a passion for serving and developing nurturing communities, has become an avid study of the history and development of the City of Lakeland. “I understand not all families within city limits have the same resources to juggle work, parenting, and caring for elderly parents. Things are changing rapidly, especially in light of the Covid-19 pandemic. I believe that rapid growth within our city limits can be beneficial for increased employment opportunities and small business development. However, rapid growth also calls for caution as families can be left behind if we don’t measure growth by asking critical questions.”
The critical questions that Post wants to maintain at the table as City Commissioner are the following:
- In which ways can we maintain the City of Lakeland living affordable?
- What does it look like to develop a city that maintains its hometown friendly atmosphere, while providing:
- proper transportation and traffic management
- care for young and older adults
- preservation of clean water and green spaces
- access to information and technology
- safety to our communities
Post decided to run for the City of Lakeland Commissioner because “after managing multi-million dollar projects for over 20 years,” Post states, “I have acquired skills in making sound investments, equitable negotiations, and conservative spending that could be useful in discerning the future of our city. I have been following closely the development of the city’s comprehensive plan and I want to make sure all segments of our city residents have a voice and are heard through its implementation.”
Post adds, “My family and I have developed this deep love for this city because of the hometown friendly atmosphere, focus on the arts, the cultural scene, and the opportunities it provides for small businesses to thrive. We are running a campaign on the values of our city and my personal and professional values. I believe in the power of a community that works together for the greater good and the thoughtfulness needed to ensure we care for our citizens’ quality of life.”
Throughout the month of March, Ken Post will be hosting listening sessions on Zoom, Saturdays at 6 pm. “We want to listen to the heart of the city,” he adds. Information on how to register for the listening sessions will be available on his website at www.voteforpost.com. You may follow Ken Post on Instagram @kenpost411.
Steve Frankenberger
1) Why should the voters vote for you?
I have lived, worked, and raised a family in Lakeland for over 36 years. Learning management skills from one of the most respected companies in the world and also running my own business. I have a creative way of seeing issues differently and asking questions to make educated decisions. I will listen and be the voice for the voter.
2) What is your platform?
I will work with city leaders to attract new businesses while supporting all small businesses within the city. I will be fiscally responsible and keep taxes manageable and work within a budget. I will preserve Lakeland‘s natural resources, protecting our lakes, and continue to find ways to reduce our environmental footprint.
3) CO-VID 19 question …. What your opinion on wearing masks?
I believe it is our responsibility to take care of others. If science has proven to us that masks will help prevent the pandemic then I am all for wearing masks in public location. I do wear a mask at this time.
4) What is your vision for Lakeland for the future?
Lakeland’s growth is in inevitable. I will focus on our infrastructure and public transportation along with affordable housing. My goal is for Lakeland to be an all-inclusive city that gives equal opportunity for growth, business, and prosperity. Our quality of life is important. I will work towards the future of less environmental impact, green spaces to enjoy, and clean lakes that we can be proud of.