New faces win elections across Polk. 1 longtime incumbent loses. And there are runoffs

LAKELAND — There will be a slate of new faces stepping forward to lead cities across Polk County, with political newcomers winning open seats and one long-term incumbent unseated in municipal elections Tuesday.

Lakeland Commissioner Chad McLeod won re-election Tuesday to a second four-year term in the At-Large Seat #2 in Lakeland with a commanding 57% of the votes, according to the unofficial results posted on Polk County Supervisors of Election's website. McLeod beat challenges from Kay Klymko, a healthcare professional, who received nearly 27% of votes with business strategist Dennis Odisho trailing at 15% of votes. "I'm incredibly grateful and thank to everyone who voted and so many residents for their support," McLeod said. "It is really an honor and privilege to serve on the commission. I'm excited to serve a second term."

In his second term, McLeod said he wants to remain focused on continued revitalization efforts of Downtown Lakeland and hopes to see Fire Station 8 in the Northwest up and running, sooner the better but hopefully in the next four years.

Lakeland will have a run-off election

Guy LaLonde Jr. collected nearly 48%, or 4,465 votes, to lead the three-way race to represent Lakeland's Northwest District. He was followed by incumbent Interim Commissioner Sam Simmons, with nearly 31%, or 2,875 votes. Simmons received a greater portion of the total mail-in ballots.

LaLonde and Simmons will move to a Dec. 5 runoff election. Political newcomer Lolita Berrien, a Polk County Public Schools employee, received about 21% of votes.

The outcomes of these municipals races are based on the unofficial results posted by Polk County Supervisor of Election's website as of 9:10 p.m. The mail-in ballots have been included in these numbers.

Winter Haven

Incumbent Winter Haven city commissioner Tracy Mercer held onto Seat 1 by a narrow margin, receiving 52% vs. 47% for challenger Kim Davis, based on the unofficial results Tuesday night. The difference is about 240 votes out of more than 4,200 cast. Mercer appears to have collected a greater percentage of the mail-in ballots.

There is no clear winner in the three-way race for Seat 5, an open seat following the death of longtime Commissioner J.P. Powell in April.

Clifton Dollison, a pastor at First Missionary Baptist Church in Winter Haven, fell short of having a clear majority, receiving more than 39% of ballots cast. He was trailed by candidate Johnathon Bush, a pastor at Southside Baptist Church in Winter Haven, who received more than 32% of the votes. Dollison and Bush will go head-to-head in a Dec. 5 run-off election.

Tom D. Freijo, an executive recruiter who previously served on the Winter Haven City Commission in the 1990s, received about 27% of the ballots cast Tuesday, according to the unofficial results.

Auburndale

Jordan Helms, 38, a lifelong Auburndale resident, has been elected to Seat 4 on Auburndale's City Commission. He received a clear 63% of total ballots cast vs. Donishia Yarde, who took about 36.6%, according to the unofficial results page. Auburndale's Seat 4 was previously held by by Jack Myers, a former Polk County commissioner who opted not to seek re-election.

Helms, who works in technical sales in the food and beverage industry and in broadband, previously told The Ledger he elected to run for office to preserve Auburndale's "small-town feel" despite rapid growth.

Alex Cam, 32, president of Cam's Catering, won Seat 5 with roughly 60%, or 864 vote, versus Maulissa Braverman, who received nearly 40%.

Cam previously told The Ledger he wants to make city operations more efficient and sees a need for improvements to Auburndale's sewer system.

Fort Meade

Youthful challenger Jaret Landon Williams managed to unseat longtime incumbent Commissioner Bob Elliott, 606 to 520 votes.

Williams, 37, grew up in For Meade with his family having settled the area in the 1870s. He previously worked in the music industry before becoming a real estate developer with a focus on revitalizing downtown Fort Meade. Williams also runs a nonprofit, Dorothy Jean's Dream Initiative, which provides art and cultural opportunities to underserved communities.

Williams said he would like to address Fort Meade's high electricity bills, address public safety concerns and the city's infrastructural issues.

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Elliott had served on the commission since 1998.

There was no clear winner in the three-way race for Fort Meade's special election for At-Large Seat 5 as of Election Night. Samuel Berrien received approximately 42% of the votes, followed by Donnie True with 30%. Candice Filyaw Lott garnered 27%.

Berrien and True will face off in Fort Meade's run-off election on Nov. 21 at the Fort Meade Community Center, 10 3rd St. SW.

Fort Meade's charter amendment regarding moving any runoff elections to the first Tuesday after the first Monday of December and the hosting of special runoff elections passed by an overwhelming 86%.

Overall turnout low

Overall voter turnout Tuesday was low, at just over 15% of registered voters. In Lakeland and Winter Haven, 62% of votes cast were mail-in ballots.

In Lakeland, 9,307 votes were cast in Lakeland's Northwest District race, 5,771 of which were mail ballots. And 9,298 votes were cast in the At-Large district, 5,742 of those by mail.

In Winter Haven, 4,236 votes were cast for Seat 1, 2,637 by mail. Seat 2 saw 4,333 votes, 2,689 by mail.

In Fort Meade, nearly 65% of the votes were in person. While Auburndale was split 50% in person and 50% by mail.

Sara-Megan Walsh can be reached at swalsh@theledger.com or 863-802-7545. Follow on X @SaraWalshFl.

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Polk elections: New faces, runoffs and a longtime incumbent loses