City commissioners played editor this morning, tweaking the wording voters will see when they vote Nov. 7 on whether to change the system of city government to strong mayor. The edits include changes sought by both sides of the contentious issue.
Category: Politics
Posted inCity Hall
Voters Will Decide Strong Mayor Issue in November
Lakeland voters will decide in November whether to change the form of city government. City commissioners voted 5-2 this morning to set November for the vote on a proposal to change from the council-manager form to a strong mayor format.
Posted inCity Hall
Mayor Wiggs: I Am Not Running for Re-election
Howard Wiggs declared this morning he won’t be a candidate for mayor, answering speculation that he would seek the office if voters agree to change the form of city government to a strong mayor system.
Posted inPolitics
Ross Explains His Support for Health Care Bill
In case you were wondering whether U.S. Rep. Dennis Ross of Lakeland was going to support the president’s desire to pass the American Health Care Act or join the conservatives who oppose it, he explains his support in an opinion column. Source: Sunshine State News
Posted inPolitics
Democrat Greg Pilkington Announces for Congress
The Indian Lake Estates resident is among five candidates who have filed to unseat Republican Dennis Ross of Lakeland in 2018. Source: The Ledger
Posted inA & E
UK Christian Music Site Mourns Larry Howard
The 66-year-old Lakeland musician, a founder of the Southern rock band Grinderswitch in the 1970s who turned to gospel blues in the ’80s, was remembered as “a pioneer of Christian blues.” | Ledger obituary and profile Source: Cross Rhythms
Posted inCity Hall
Candidate Mutz Says He Wants to Be a Strong Leader, Not a ‘Strong Mayor’
It sounds counterintuitive, but Bill Mutz says he’s running for mayor to demonstrate that you don’t have to have a strong mayor to have strong leadership at City Hall.
Posted inPolitics
Rep. Ross Faces Challenging Crowd at Clermont Meeting
The mood was edgy and angry in a town hall meeting held tonight by Lakeland-based U.S. Rep. Dennis Ross, but a New York Times reporter covering the event praised Ross on Twitter for his handing of the “heated, passionate and determined crowd.”
Posted inCity Hall
Three Business Executives File to Run for City Offices
Bill Mutz, former owner of Lakeland Automall, is running for may0r. C. Scott Franklin, president and CEO of Lanier Upshaw insurance is running for the City Commission southeast district. And Michael Dunn, owner of Vet’s Surplus, is running for City Commission southwest district. Source: The Ledger