Lakeland voters today re-elected Bill Mutz as mayor with a 2-to-1 margin that decisively endorsed his call for inclusion and growth over far-right challenger Saga Stevin’s push to “Keep Lakeland, Lakeland.” Two first-term City Commission incumbents — Mike Musick and Sara Roberts McCarley — also scored decisive wins over challengers who sought to bring new […]
Tag: Mayor
Posted inCity Hall, Politics
It’s Election Day; Here’s What You Need to Know
Lakeland voters go to the polls today to elect a mayor and two city commissioners and decide on two proposed changes to the City Charter. Polling places are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Find your precinct number here and then confirm your polling place here.
Posted inCity Hall, Politics
Last-Minute Attack Mailers Hit Lakeland’s Mayor Race
UPDATED NOV. 1: Lakeland’s mayor election has been hit with three last-minute attack mailers from an out-of-town political action committee run by a man whose name has been associated with last-minute attacks several times.
Posted inNews Roundup
Read It in the Morning Paper: Airport Restaurant, Stevin Newsletter
AIRPORT RESTAURANT: City commissioners are set to approve a contract Monday for restaurateur and aircraft company CEO Sven Lepschy to open a restaurant, Waco Kitchen, on the mezzanine at Lakeland Linder Airport. Lepschy’s company, DiMor Eats LLC, plans to invest $3 million to enlarge and renovate the existing restaurant space, which has been vacant for […]
Posted inCity Hall, Politics
Florida Gazette Publisher Denies Link to Unregistered Political Action Committee
The publisher of Lakeland Gazette denies involvement with an unregistered political action committee even though the two share a mailing address and digital links, Florida Politics reports. Both the publication and the PAC support Saga Stevin in her bid for mayor and have published repeated attacks on incumbent Bill Mutz. Mutz said he does not […]
Posted inCity Hall, Politics
Video: Mayor Candidate Debate at Central Florida Business Diversity Council
Approaches to diversity and assistance to small businesses were major topics this morning when Lakeland mayor candidates Bill Mutz and Saga Stevin appeared at a forum hosted by the Central Florida Business Diversity Council. The forum was moderated by Larry Mitchell, the organization’s president. RELATED: Ledger coverage
Posted inCity Hall, Politics
Mutz Zooms Ahead in Latest Campaign Finance Filings
With just over a week until Election Day, the latest Lakeland campaign finance reports show that Mayor Bill Mutz now has the largest campaign chest ($57,725) and largest donor base (202) among the six people running for city office.
Posted inCity Hall, Politics
Video: LkldNow Mayor Candidate Forum
Here is the video from LkldNow’s Mayor Candidate Forum, held Tuesday evening at Lkld Live. The video starts just after host Andrea Oliver had introduced candidates Bill Mutz and Saga Stevin but just before she asked them the first question. LkldNow apologizes for the technical issues that interrupted our live stream last night.
Posted inCity Hall, Politics
Stevin Takes Heat at NAACP Forum and Claims She Was ‘Set Up’
An hour of audience questions at an NAACP candidate forum was dominated by people challenging mayoral hopeful Saga Stevin on her statements critical of Black Lives Matter, police body cameras and moving Confederate monuments. The next day she told The Ledger she had been “set up.” NAACP Lakeland Branch President Terry Coney responded that the […]
Posted inCity Hall, Politics
Catching Up With the Candidates: Campaign Finance
As of the end of September, Saga Stevin and Sara Roberts McCarley had the largest campaign treasuries among the six people running for Lakeland mayor and City Commission this fall. Shandale Terrell had the most individual donors. And Allyson “Al” Lewis had the most donations from political organizations. Read on for more highlights and a […]