GROVELAND, Fla. – Voters will decide Tuesday among three candidates competing for the Groveland District 4 City Council seat, including incumbent Judith Fike, who was previously suspended and reinstated following controversial social media posts that appeared to be written by her.
Jim O’Neil, a retired Navy veteran with previous experience on Winter Garden’s Code Enforcement Board, emphasizes the need for increased transparency in city government.
“One of the things I’d like to introduce into the city council, as well as the city management, is an evaluation process,” O’Neil said. “Establish some KPIs, key performance indicators, that the citizens, and city council, and the city government will all negotiate as to what it means to be effective in our jobs. And the citizens should have a role in deciding how we are evaluated.”
[WATCH: Groveland city council debates official removal rule change after councilwoman’s suspension]
Michael Jaycox, who brings 25 years of experience writing consensus-building codes and laws for construction, including contributions to the 2008 New York City Building Code, is campaigning on greater fiscal responsibility.
“They just think we are a piggy bank, and we just keep giving them money,” Jaycox said.
When asked if he thought the city and city council needed an overhaul, Jaycox said yes.
“I like the mayor,” Jaycox said. “I like the direction the mayor is heading in some places and some places, I disagree.”
Based on her campaign website, incumbent Councilmember Fike’s campaign platform focuses on growth with purpose, creating an inclusive community, and investing in youth, according to her campaign website. Fike did not respond to requests for an interview.
It appears as though all three candidates feel the growth in Groveland is a priority.
“There’s got to be a rationale behind what we’re building and where we’re building it, how much we’re building,” O’Neil said regarding the city’s growth.
“There’s sensible growth and sensible growth to me is making a rule that one acre, one house,” Jaycox said.
Lake County Supervisor of Elections Alan Hays advises voters who requested mail-in ballots but haven’t returned them to vote in person instead. Mail-in ballots must be received by the Supervisor of Elections by 7 p.m. Tuesday to be counted.