The Lakeland Chamber of Commerce is hosting its signature civic engagement event, Politics in the Park. The non-partisan forum connects community members directly with candidates running for local, legislative, and statewide offices ahead of the primary election.
This year’s Politics in the Park will be held at the Skylight Hanger at Sun ‘n Fun on Aug. 12.
Political Forum (6:00–7:30 p.m.), Community Networking (7:30–8:00 p.m.)
What to Know About the Event
- Host & Event Details: Presented by the Lakeland Chamber of Commerce in partnership with Orlando Health Watson Clinic and Lakeland Highlands Hospital.
- Public Access: The public portion of the event includes an organized candidate forum followed by community networking.
- Straw Poll: Attendees can participate in a non-binding straw poll conducted on-site by local election staff to gauge voter sentiment.
As of Aug. 6, confirmed campaigns attending include:
- Jay Collins for Florida Governor
- Deva Simmons for U.S. Representative, District 18
- Ed Pope for U.S. Representative, District 16
- Colleen Burton for Florida Senate, District 12
- Jennifer Kincart Jonnson Campaign for Florida House of Representatives, District 49
- Jennifer Canady for Florida House of Representatives, District 50
- Hilary Holley for Florida House of Representatives, District 51
- Omar Arroyo for Polk County Commissioner, District 4
- Rick Wilson for Polk County Commissioner, District 2
- Kelly Quinn for Polk County Commissioner, District 2
- Victor Sims for Polk County School Board, District 3
- Kate Wallace for Polk County School Board, District 3
- Kay Fields for Polk County School Board, District 5
- Sam Neelam for Polk County School Board, District 5
- Justin Sharpless for Polk County School Board, District 6
- Chris Spath for Circuit Court Judge Group 23
- Andrea DeMichael for Circuit Court Judge Group 24
- Candice Dixon for Circuit Court Judge Group 24
Per Lakeland Chamber of Commerce
Official Voter & Election Resources
For official voting logistics, district information, or registration checks, consult trusted election services:
- Voter Status & Local Logistics: Visit the Polk County Supervisor of Elections 2026 Primary Information portal to check your voter status, review sample ballots, or locate early voting centers and precinct details.
- Statewide Information: Check the Florida Division of Elections Portal for state regulations, candidate filings, and voting guidelines across Florida.
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