THE TURNOUT WAS BETTER THAN EXPECTED...

Tuesday was election day in Lakeland, where the mayor's post and three City Commission seats were decided. The only real surprise was that the turnout was slightly better than expected, especially with the constant rain during the afternoon. Supervisor of Elections Lori Edwards had forecast only ten percent of the city's 51,520 registered voters to show up; 15.83 percent (8,155 voters) turned out.

Incumbant mayor and printing company owner Ralph "Buddy" Fletcher easily won reelection with 64 percent of the vote. In the southwest District C commission race, area activist/curmudgeon Dewey Smith was easily defeated by incumbant Jim Verplanck. Smith, who is leading a petition drive to change the county charter (see my post from Tuesday), only received 27.5 percent. Verplanck was the city's community development director before retiring and winning election in 2000.

There were five candidates in the southeast District D race. CPA firm partner Edith L. "Edie" Yates will face businesswoman/consultant Sylvia Blackmon-Roberts in the only runoff on December 6. Yates was the leader in votes cast with 41 percent to Blackmon-Roberts' 26 percent.

Another incumbant commissioner, advertising executive Howard Wiggs, had the closest race of the evening, defeating surplus businessman Michael Dunn with nearly 56 percent.

The hot issue throughout the election was the city's electric utility. Lakeland Electric has the highest rates in Florida outside of Key West, partly because of it being held to a contract that has cost it millions in recent years. From the turnout, sounds like Lakelanders want more of the same...