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Election Results

Congratulations to Mark Hartz, Randy Nicholson and Gerrit Verschuur. By receiving the top number of votes, both Hartz and Nicholson will serve 4 year terms, and Gerrit Verschuur will serve a 2 year term.


Lakeland Elections

There were three at-large commissioner elections in the September 20, 2007 election. This election filled two four-year positions and one two-year position that were held by Lakeland Commissioners Randy Nicholson, Mark Hartz and Vice-Mayor Stephanie Anderson.

The city leadership is responsible for the decisions that affect our daily lives as residents of Lakeland. Every vote on zoning ordinances, natural resource preservation, development approvals or denials, and everything inbetween will impact Lakeland residents both today and in the future. Please make every effort to educate yourself on the candidates and their platforms. This website is only one of many avenues through which you can learn more about the candidates and the election.


Video - Lakeland Civic Club Forum

Theresa Mauer from the League of Women Voters moderated the forum, and Peg Watkins served as timekeeper. The questions were submitted anonymously by audience members on index cards. The submitter indicated the candidate(s) for which the question was intended. Candidate statements and responses were timed and limited as follows: 3 mintues for opening statements; 2 minutes for answers; 5 minutes for closing statements. Order of candidate opening statements was in ballot order. Closing statement order was selected by draw.

The entire statement or response from each candidate is presented in the individual video segments. The video segments are listed in the same order as occured during the forum.
Opening Statements
James BaconClick here
Bennie CobbClick here
Mark HartzClick here
Roger MorganClick here
Randy NicholsonClick here
Heidi VerbeekClick here
Gerrit VerschuurClick here
Questions to Panel
1. Regarding the Special Session of the Board of Commisioners for the Single Point Interchange at Canada Rd & I-40 decision. Addressed to Commissioner Mark Hartz with the question of how the meeting went, with each of the remaining candidates also responding on the issue.
Mark HartzClick here
Randy NicholsonClick here
James BaconClick here
Gerrit VerschuurClick here
Roger MorganClick here
Heidi VerbeekClick here
Bennie CobbClick here
2. How do we prevent crime in our neighborhoods in Lakeland? What power does the Lakeland government have to fight crime?
James BaconClick here
Bennie CobbClick here
Mark HartzClick here
Roger MorganClick here
3. Lakeland faces a delicate balance between commercial and residential development. What are 2 reasons why you would oppose a commercial development?
Randy NicholsonClick here
Gerrit VerschuurClick here
Heidi VerbeekClick here
James BaconClick here
4. Knowing Lakeland needs to have a better infrastructure for its citizens, without a property tax, how do you propose to fund these programs in the future?
Bennie CobbClick here
Roger MorganClick here
Randy NicholsonClick here
Mark HartzClick here
James BaconClick here
Gerrit VerschuurClick here
5. How would you make residents more aware of recommended zoning changes to surrounding properties that would impact property values and their quality of life?
Gerrit VerschuurClick here
Heidi VerbeekClick here
Mark HartzClick here
Randy NicholsonClick here
6. What is your vision for Lakeland over the next three years and how does your vision differ from the other candidates?
Roger MorganClick here
7. In your service to the city, what is the one project or idea that you point to as your proudest accomplishment?
Gerrit VerschuurClick here
8. There is a trend in Shelby County toward gated communities. How do you feel about gated communities in Lakeland?
Heidi VerbeekClick here
9. Would you have any proposal regarding Mayor Wharton's new fire tax to eliminate the enormous increase that most Lakeland residents will see?
Randy NicholsonClick here
10. Do you think the current buffer between residential and commercial is adequate?
Roger MorganClick here
11. Why didn't you vote 4 years ago to widen the I-40 bridge when the money was available?
Mark HartzClick here
12. What type of housing and businesses would you like to see in Lakeland and what type would you like to avoid altogether?
Bennie CobbClick here
13. I keep hearing Lakeland needs to be "business friendly". How do you stand on "business friendly" in the way of types of business, signage, location?
James BaconClick here
Closing Statements
Gerrit VerschuurClick here
Heidi VerbeekClick here
James BaconClick here
Randy NicholsonClick here
Mark HartzClick here
Bennie CobbClick here
Roger MorganClick here
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Partnership Lakeland

A nonpartisan political action committee formed in 1999 to identify and support quality candidates who would work to ensure that Lakeland remains a desirable place to live and raise our families.

Endorsement of candidates is by secret ballot from the members of the partnership. (currently about 200 people)

Purpose:

The purpose of Partnership Lakeland is to promote the welfare of Lakeland residents, property owners and the business community, by actively promoting and supporting the election of qualified candidates for public office in the City.

A qualified candidate will be one who exhibits a positive outlook aimed at fostering a spirit of greater community within the City, and one who demonstrates that he/she is qualified for office.

Functions:

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The listing of these candidates and the information displayed is for informational purposes only and it not intended to be an endorsement of any particular candidate.

James Bacon

Bennie Cobb

Mark Hartz

Roger Morgan

Randy Nicholson

Heidi Verbeek

Gerrit Verschuur

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We invite any candidate for the Lakeland elections to send an email to elections@uncommonlylakeland.com with additional information about their platform, experience or other relevant facts about themselves pertaining to the election. Every effort will be made to accommodate requests and provide unbiased representation on each candidate.




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