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Political newcomer Ashley Troutman easily bested rival Dennis Odisho to win the District C – Southwest seat on Lakeland’s City Commission with 70.2% of the vote to Odisho’s 29.8%, according to unofficial results of the Nov. 4 election.
Incumbent Commissioner Mike Musick, who got a late start campaigning because of a cancer diagnosis, rallied to win a second term. He captured 59.7% of the vote, fending off a challenge from musician Kim-Marie Noble (40.3%) for the District D – Southeast seat.
‘I am ready’
Troutman celebrated his win, which coincided with his son’s 6th birthday, at the Garden Bistro with roughly three dozen family and friends.
He addressed them around 7:35 p.m., just after Odisho called to congratulate him.
“We have more work to do. I am ready to get your counsel along the way. I don’t want you to think that I am someone that thinks they know it all, because I don’t,” Troutman told his supporters.
“I’m married to this woman, Kia, and one of her best attributes is telling me very clearly that I don’t know it all,” he added to laughter from the crowd.
Troutman gave special praise to his mom, former Mayor Gow Fields, who has been a mentor to him, and his teammates from the district-winning 1999 George Jenkins High School basketball team.
In addition to Fields, other elected officials attending Troutman’s victory celebration were current Polk County School Board Chair William Allen, former Lakeland Mayor Howard Wiggs, former Commissioner Phillip Walker and Haines City Mayor Omar Orroyo.
A pricey contest for District C – Southwest
Troutman ran a polished and well-funded campaign, raising $60,765 to Odisho’s $16,610, according to the latest campaign finance reports filed Oct. 31. He spent $43,568, more than five times Odisho’s outlay of $8,563.
In an interview in August, Troutman said he has always had a desire to serve in a public role. His priorities include balancing growth and infrastructure with the need for economic development.
This was Odisho’s second bid for the City Commission. He said this will be his final run for local political office. In the future, he plans to support other candidates.
A grassroots battle for District D – Southeast
The campaigns in Lakeland’s southeast district were less flashy than in the southwest.
Musick, who owns a roofing business, was first elected to the commission during a special election in May 2021, then elected for his first full term in November of the same year.
His campaign raised $16,850, including $7,000 in personal contributions. Much of the money was raised in the past few weeks.
Although Musick filed for reelection on May 2, he didn’t hold his kickoff event until Oct. 2 because he was recovering from successful radiation, chemotherapy and surgery. At a Commission meeting the day before the election, he was sporting new growth of his beard.
‘We’ll build on this’
Noble, who has lived in Lakeland for 17 years, launched her campaign in March with a goal of representing working people who are struggling to make ends meet. She raised $9,710, much of it from small-dollar donors, and focused her efforts on grassroots campaigning.
She said she wanted to be a voice for Lakelanders who have not felt heard by local government. Her priorities include fair wages, community engagement and affordable housing. She is the lead singer of local cover band, Proper Wednesday.
Noble, who watched the returns at Union Hall, said she was not discouraged. “We’ll build on this and run again in 2027,” she said.
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