A Saga Stevin campaign mailer sent out to Lakeland households raised questions about whether Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd has endorsed challenger Stevin over incumbent Bill Mutz in the mayor race.
The mailer sent to homes last week by the Saga for Lakeland campaign, reads, “Lakeland Mayor Howard Wiggs, Sheriff Grady Judd and County Commissioner Neil Combee with Saga Stevin.”
Both Former Mayor Wiggs and the Polk Commissioner Combee have openly stated their support for Saga Stevin.
Mayor Bill Mutz has said that her mailer was intentionally created to infer an endorsement.
Sheriff Grady Judd has told The Lakeland Gazette via email that he has stated he does not endorse either current Mayor Bill Mutz, or his challenger Saga Stevin in their bid for the Lakeland mayor’s seat this November.
Sheriff also stated he does not back candidates for municipal elections.
Judd’s email stated that “I have not endorsed any candidate for the mayor’s race in Lakeland and I am not planning to endorse,” he wrote. “I take lots of photos with many people and encourage them to share them with their friends. I know both candidates and, of course, I am a longtime friend of Mayor Bill Mutz. It is up to Lakeland voters to choose their next Mayor, not me.”
For example in 2018, Judd took offense when Republican Ross Spano sent a mailer while campaigning for Congress that featured an image of him with the sheriff that implied Judd’s endorsement. At the time, Judd said the use of his photo was “misleading the voters, misleading the community.”
Judd did not offer any such criticism of Stevin’s flyer. When asked by The Lakeland Gazette what differences there are between Spano and Stevin’s actions, the Sheriff’s Office did not respond, why?
Who has endorsed who so far ………….To date
Mutz has been endorsed by the Business Voice of Greater Lakeland, Florida Family Policy Council, and Lakeland Realtors.
Stevin has been endorsed by Lakeland’s Fraternal Order of Police and Lakeland Professional Firefighters.
Judd has endorsed Jennifer Canady …….
And Saga said at the debate that Grady DOES NOT ENDORSE….Ugh, vote out Mutz. All he does is lie and stir up trouble!