Let the races begin.
Petition filing has opened for six open seats on Lakeland’s Board of Commissioners (BOC) and Lakeland School Board (LSB).
Today (5.18.18) was the first day to pick up petitions for the state and federal general and municipal election which is Nov. 6.
Two commissioner seats as well as the mayor’s slot are open on the BOC with three seats up for grabs on the LSB.
Those who pulled petitions today are:
BOC
- Wyatt Bunker, current Lakeland Mayor and director of security at Baptist Memorial Health Care.
- Michele Dial, an assistant principal with Bartlett City Schools and a former Lakeland commissioner.
- Jeremy Burnett, dean of faculty support at Southwest Tennessee Community College and a member of the Lakeland Education Foundation Board.
LSB
- Kevin Floyd, current chair of LSB and owner of the Floyd Law Firm.
- Laura Harrison, current vice chair of LSB and the planning and analysis advisor-USPS at Federal Express.
- Deborah Thomas, a former teacher, now an independent educational assessment contractor.
The six open positions were filled in 2013 by Mayor Wyatt Bunker; Commissioner Clark Plunk; Commissioner Sherri Gallick, who resigned and was replaced by Matt Wright; School Board Members Kevin Floyd, Laura Harrison and Kelley Hale.
All have served longer than the typical four years because the BOC voted to move the September 2017 regular election to the next general election which will be Nov. 6, 2018. Officials felt the voter turnout would be greater if attached to a state and federal contest.
Two current elected officials are not contenders for their seats.
Kelley Hale, member of LSB, said, “I have thoroughly enjoyed my time serving as a Board Member. Lakeland is truly a great community with dedicated leaders and wonderful people. Our school system has changed in so many ways the past five years and it has been thrilling and humbling to have been a part.”
Matt Wright, who was appointed to the BOC in February 2017 when Commissioner Sherri Gallick resigned to move out-of-town, will not run in this election. “All of my personal goals of the last six years are now accomplished or in the process of being accomplished. I want to spend my free time in late summer and fall coaching my sons in football especially since this will be the last year I can coach my middle son before he goes to LMPS.”
Commissioner Clark Plunk told Lakeland Currents he has not decided whether he will seek reelection.
Members of the BOC not up for reelection this year are Josh Roman and Wesley Wright, who was elected a year ago to fill the seat vacated by Mrs. Dial when she resigned after 18 months due to family issues.
LSB members Teresa Henry and Geoff Hicks are not up for reelection.
The qualifying deadline to file is noon Aug. 16. The withdrawal deadline is noon Aug. 23. Early voting is Oct. 17-Nov. 1 with the actual election Nov. 6.
Lakeland Currents will bring readers information on all candidates before early voting starts.
