Registered voters in Lakeland have one job in Tuesday’s special election: Select the next city commissioner to represent southeast Lakeland. Learn about the candidates — Mike Musick and Shandale Terrell — in our voter guide:
The candidates: Mike Musick and Shandale Terrell are in a runoff since none of the four original candidates received a majority in the April 6 municipal election. (There’s more about them below.) It’s the only race on the ballot. Neither has held elective office before. The race is nonpartisan. Candidates Steve Frankenberger and Ken Post were eliminated in the April 6 election.
Which seat? Why is there a vacancy? The seat represents Lakeland’s Southeast quadrant. Former Commissioner Scott Franklin vacated the seat effective Jan. 3, the day he was sworn in as a U.S. representative. City commissioners appointed Don Selvage to fill the seat until the election.
Voting
- Election Day: May 4. Polls are open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Who can vote: Registered voters who live within Lakeland city limits. You do not have to live in the Southeast district to vote.
- Where to vote: Polling places are being consolidated for this election. Find your precinct number here and then find your polling place here.
- Early voting: Walk-in voting is available weekdays 8:30 to 4:30 from April 26 to May 3 at the Polk County Government Operations Center, 930 E. Parker St. Other locations (same dates and times) are Polk elections offices at 250 S. Broadway Ave. in Bartow and 70 Florida Citrus Blvd. in Winter Haven.
- Mail ballots: The deadline to request mail ballots has passed. Ballots must be received by the Polk Supervisor of Elections by 7 p.m. on Election Day. They can be placed in the mail or placed in a secure drop box in the lobby of Lakeland City Hall, 228 S. Massachusetts Ave.
The candidates
Mike Musick
- Age: 49
- Occupation: Owner of Musick Construction and Roofing
- Campaign slogan: A conservative, small business owner pushing for transparency in your local government
- Links: Website | Instagram | Facebook | Personal Facebook
- Brief bio (based on self-introductions at candidate forums): Musick moved to Lakeland from Williamsport, Pa., when he was 7 years old. He has been married for 22 years, and all three of his children are in college. His wife was a labor and delivery nurse at Lakeland Regional for 20 years and now teaches nursing at Southeastern University. His business started out in general contracting and now focuses on roofing.
- Endorsements: Business Voice of Greater Lakeland (political arm of the Lakeland Chamber of Commerce); Lakeland Realtors; Lakeland Professional Firefighters; Polk County Builders Association; former Mayor Howard Wiggs; Polk County Commissioner Neil Combee.
Shandale Terrell
- Age: 46
- Occupation: Educator, Polk Public Schools
- Campaign slogan: Making a difference in our community
- Links: Website | Facebook | Personal Facebook
- Brief bio (based on self-introductions at candidate forums): Terrell is a Lakeland native who attended Auburn University on a football scholarship. He has a bachelor’s degree in education from Florida A&M University, and master’s and doctoral degrees in education specialties from Nova Southeastern University. He has been a member of the Lakeland Citizens Advisory Committee, Budget Advisory Committee, Police Athletic League Board of Directors, Gang Task Force and the Police Advisory Board.
- Endorsements: Steve Frankenberger and Ken Post, the two candidates eliminated in the April 6 election: also: retired Circuit Judge Bob Doyel and
- Age: 46
- Occupation: Educator, Polk Public Schools
- Campaign slogan: Making a difference in our community
- Links: Website | Facebook | Personal Facebook
- Brief bio (based on self-introductions at candidate forums): Terrell is a Lakeland native who attended Auburn University on a football scholarship. He has a bachelor’s degree in education from Florida A&M University, and master’s and doctoral degrees in education specialties from Nova Southeastern University. He has been a member of the Lakeland Citizens Advisory Committee, Budget Advisory Committee, Police Athletic League Board of Directors, Gang Task Force and the Police Advisory Board.
- Endorsements: Steve Frankenberger and Ken Post, the two candidates eliminated in the April 6 election: also: retired Circuit Judge Bob Doyel and Equality Florida Action PAC (which endorsed Frankenberger in the general election).
CAMPAIGN FINANCE: Check a searchable table detailing campaign finance: who gave, how much, how many people per candidatee, total dollar amounts, etc. Thanks goes to Michael Maguire of The City Zen Ship for compiling the data.
News coverage
- LkldNow: Four Candidates Running in April 6 City Election (Feb. 19)
- The Ledger: Four Candidates Running for Lakeland’s Southeast Seat (Feb. 24)
- LkldNow: Candidates Differ in Approaches to Campaign Finance (March 16)
- LkldNow: Candidates Differ on Issues in LkldNow Forum (March 22)
- The Ledger: Q&A with the candidates (March 26 – hard paywall)
- The Ledger: How Lakeland’s Special Election Happened (March 26 – hard paywall)
- LkldNow: Campaign Finance: Frankenberger Leads in Dollars; Terrell Leads in Donors (April 4)
- LkldNow: Musick, Terrell Head for Runoff in City Commission Election (April 6)
- The Ledger: Terrell, Musick Head for Runoff for Southeast District Seat (April 7)
- The Ledger: Early Voting Begins in Lakeland Runoff Election (April 26)
- LkldNow: Days Before Runoff, Candidates Still Reporting Endorsements, Donors (April 30)
Forum videos
LkldNow Forum – March 16
FORUM HIGHLIGHTS – Short videos curated by Michael Maguire:
Frankenberger | Musick | Post | Terrell
Libertarian Party of Polk County Forum – March 29
Chamber of Commerce – March 30
Polk Voters League (also includes candidates for races in Lake Wales and Lake Alfred)
Libertarian Party of Polk County Forum – April 19
Corrections, additions?
Send us corrections or additions.
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