Three city commission seats up for grabs in upcoming Lakeland election
LAKELAND — There are three seats up for grabs in Lakeland this election season. In one of the races voters will either confirm the commission's appointment or select a new representative for the city's Northwest District.
Commissioner Bill Read is up for re-election representing the Northeast district and Commissioner Chad McLeod is seeking a second term in the At-Large position he now occupies, which is open to anyone in the city who wants to run for it. Both are currently running unopposed with a little less than a month left for challengers to file.
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There are three candidates vying for the Northwest District seat previously held for over 12 years by former Commissioner Phillip Walker. Here is a look at each of them:
Lolita Berrien
Lakeland native Lolita Berrien, 67, is launching her first campaign for political office. She's spent around 50 years living in the Webster Park South neighborhood and said she would like to see change.
"I know my neighborhood," she said. "I've seen the improvement and I know more improvements could be accomplished."
Berrien recently started her 27th year working as an administrative assistant for Polk County Public Schools. She works as a secretary at Lincoln Avenue Academy. Berrien said she volunteers at her church First Baptist Institutional Church in Lakeland and sits on the city's Code Enforcement Board. She is also a member of the Webster Park South Neighborhood Association.
In the past, Berrien said she's served on the city's Planning and Zoning Board, has attended Lakeland's Citizen Police Academy and has worked with Lakeland City Wide Mission, which helps individuals with transportation or disability-related needs.
Increasing the availability of housing within Lakeland is a top priority, Berrien said. She would like to see efforts to increase the amount of low-income and affordable housing, which she noted "are two different entities."
"I think we need to come together to come up with a solution," she said.
Berrien said while the city is earmarking annual funds to help encourage affordable housing, it's not enough.
This is compounded by issues with public transportation, Berrien said, as she sees many parents who can't afford a car that struggle to get to and from work. A more robust public transportation system that's more widely accessible with longer hours would help many who are struggling.
Guy LaLonde Jr.
Lakeland small business owner Guy LaLonde Jr. said he's waited many years to make his first foray into local politics and believes now is his opportunity. LaLonde, 56, is the owner of Lakeland Moonwalk and Under One Tent Event - party rental and supply companies based in Lakeland.
"I've waited my time," he said. "Now it's time to put my best foot forward." LaLonde said he's been motivated by his family's history of public service. His father was a former police chief, his mother a nurse. He also has a daughter who is a nursing student and a son who works as a firefighter.
"I want to give back to a community that has given to me and my family," he said.
LaLonde serves as vice chair of Polk County's Housing Finance Authority, the Central Florida Speech and Hearing board and is chair of KidsPACK, a local nonprofit that helps feed needy children.
If elected, LaLonde said infrastructure will be a critical issue moving forward - to make sure Lakeland's roadways, electrical resources and needs are taken care of. Particularly, he said the Northwest District "desperately needs" its Station 8 sooner, rather than later.
"We're developing so fast and we already have a strained infrastructure," he said. "We see buildings being approved, apartments being approved, but the roads aren't changing and we're already congested."
Samuel Simmons
Samuel Simmons was appointed by the commission to take Walker's seat in October 2022 and will serve through the November election. If he wants to keep the seat, he will have to win voters over at the ballot box.
"I've learned quite a lot since I was appointed," he said.
Simmons, 66, is the owner of a housing and financial services consulting firm since 2004. Prior to that, he worked as the finance manager for Lakeland Housing Authority. Simmons started his career as an accountant for the city and is a Kathleen High School graduate.
Public safey is at the top of Simmons priority list if he gets elected to a full four-year term. He highlighted one of his first requests was for the Lakeland Police Department to work more on solving cold cases, which resulted in Chief Sam Taylor hiring a part-time staff member to focus exclusively on the topic.
"People who have killed somebody and are still out there will be emboldened to do it again," Simmons said. "We want to get them off the street."
The second component of public safety would be getting Fire Station 8 in the Northwest district as soon as possible. Simmons said he believes it may be three years before the building built and operational. He said he is pushing for a temporary station to ensure fire and emergency response times "are adequate."
Simmons said with the spree of shooting Lakeland has seen this year, he's looking to get a new building for the city's Police Athletic League. Simmons said he think it is essential the city's teenage boys have a social environment that is positive focusing on sports or academics.
"I would rather them turn to PAL as a healthy alternative to gang affiliations and violence," he said.
Seats up for grabs
Three of the seven commission seats will be up for election this November:
District A - Northwest
District B - Northeast
One At-Large seat
Individuals elected will serve a four-year term running from January 2024 to December 2027.
Qualifications
Residents interested in running for a seat on the city commission must meet the following requirements for the non-partisan election:
Registered voter
Never convicted of a felony
City resident on or before January
Resident of the designated district as of January
Anyone interested in running for office can contact the City Clerk Kelly Koos at 863-834-6210 or email cityclerk@lakelandgov.net.
Election Dates
As the election approaches, here are some important dates to keep in mind
Qualifying Forms Due: Sept. 22 at noon
Deadline to request mail-in ballots: Oct. 26
Early voting: Oct. 23 to Nov. 6
General Election: Nov. 7
Run-off Election (if necessary): Dec. 5
Sara-Megan Walsh can be reached at swalsh@theledger.com or 863-802-7545. Follow on Twitter @SaraWalshFl.
This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Three city commission seats up for grabs in upcoming Lakeland election
