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City Commissioner Sara Roberts McCarley has shattered the previous record for fundraising in a Lakeland mayoral race. As of Oct. 9, McCarley raised $81,675, more than six times as much as her nearest rival in the four-way race. That tops the record previously held by current Mayor Bill Mutz, who raised $72,020 in his 2021 re-election campaign.
In the race for District C Southwest, first-time candidate Ashley Troutman has raised nearly eight times as much as his opponent, with $52,855 as of his campaign’s last financial report on Oct. 22.
Candidates can begin fundraising as soon as they complete their filing with the city. In the mayor’s race, McCarley was the first to announce her candidacy, filing her paperwork on Jan. 23.
For District C, Odisho filed on April 21, and Troutman filed on Aug. 13.
Who are McCarley’s donors?
McCarley’s donor list includes roughly 140 contributors, with nearly 50 giving the maximum $1,000 allowed under state law.
She has received $1,000 donations from several state-level political committees, including:
- Advancing Florida Agriculture, associated with Sen. Ben Albritton
- Citizens for Solutions and Freedom and Liberty Fund, both chaired by Sen. Jason Brodeur
- Defending Conservatism and Democracy, chaired by Sen. Danny Burgess
- Florida Conservatives United, chaired by William Stafford Jones
McCarley also received support from the campaign committees of Albritton, Sen. Colleen Burton, Rep. Jennifer Canady, and neighboring Sens. Jim Boyd and Joe Gruters.
Local donors include a number of well-known businesses and leaders. Nearly 40% of her campaign contributions have come from outside Lakeland.
How much have the other mayoral candidates raised?
McCarley’s nearest financial competitor is Cedric Valrie, a Southeastern University professor who entered the race on April 15. He has raised $12,760 and spent $11,234.
Kay Klymko, a retired healthcare professional who entered the race on Aug. 28, has raised $2,302 and spent $2,220.
Kaitlin Gracie Kramer, a restaurant manager, entered the race on Sept. 11 and has raised $1,335 and spent $861. Kramer held a fundraiser on Oct. 16, after her campaign’s most recent financial report was filed.
McCarley had spent $50,286 as of Oct. 9, leaving roughly $31,000 in her campaign account heading into the final weeks before the Nov. 4 municipal election.
PAC spending in the race
A political action committee (PAC), Coalition for a Stronger Lakeland, has also been active this election season, paying for at least one mailer that promotes McCarley’s candidacy. A few of the contributors to this PAC were previously associated with the Lakeland First PAC, which played a major role in the 2018 special election that first brought McCarley to the City Commission.
State campaign finance records show the PAC collected $42,500 in contributions this year, including $26,000 from retired Publix executive Hoyt Barnett and $5,000 from Harrell’s.
Between July and September, the committee reported $12,800 in expenditures, primarily to Isaac Communications of Jacksonville and Data Targeting of Gainesville for communications and voter research.
In the District C – Southwest race
Political newcomer Ashley Troutman leads fundraising with $52,855. His campaign financial report shows 27 contributions of $1,000, the maximum amount an individual can give. Troutman has spent $30,643, leaving him with $22,212.
His opponent, Dennis Odisho, entered the race on April 21 and has raised $6,730 and spent about $6,300. Odisho’s reports show most contributions coming from individual donors and small businesses.
The candidates acknowledged the disparity in a playful exchange on Tuesday night during Politics in the Park.
Politics in the Park forum
All eight candidates participated in the 2025 Politics in the Park forum — sponsored by Orlando Health and co-hosted by the Lakeland Chamber of Commerce and LkldNow — at the Lake Mirror Center on Tuesday.
Election Day
Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 4.
Early walk-in voting begins on Monday, Oct. 27, and runs through Friday, Oct. 31 at the Polk County Government Center, 930 E. Parker St.
Read the 2025 Voter Guide
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