Meet the three Republicans running in the primary for Polk County Commission District 1
Three candidates will be running for the District 1 seat on the Polk County Commission in a Republican primary for a spot on the ballot in the November general election.
The race includes a realtor and former Planning Commission member, Becky Troutman, who faces off against Henry Coker and Jennifer Price.
The Aug. 20 primary for County Commission District 1 is open to Republican voters only. The winner of the primary will face Democrat Kay Klymko and Judi New, a Republican, who qualified as a write-in candidate, in another three-way contest in November.
District 1 includes Lakeland and borders Hillsborough County. It is the smallest but most densely populated district. Commissioner George Lindsey is its current representative and was barred from running because of term limits.
Early, in-person voting started Aug. 10, and ends Aug. Aug. 17. Mail-in ballots, for those who requested them by the Aug. 8 deadline, must be received at the Supervisor of Elections Office by 7 p.m. Aug. 20. Ballots received after then, even if postmarked on time, will not be counted.
For this report, each candidate provided a brief biography, and they were also asked for responses to similar questions about issues facing Polk County. A summary of their answers are below in alphabetical order.
Henry Coker
Henry Coker, 39, is a third-generation Polk County resident.
“Unlike career politicians, I can genuinely relate to the average citizen's concerns and experiences,” he said. “Additionally, I am not beholden to any special interest groups, ensuring that my decisions and policies will be driven solely by the best interests of our community.”
Coker said the main issues facing the Polk County Commission are infrastructure and growth management because of the county's unprecedented population explosion.
“We need to ensure our roads, public services and housing can keep pace with this rapid growth while maintaining our quality of life,” he said.
For housing proposals, Coker said, “I would approach decisions on new housing developments by prioritizing sustainable growth, especially in rural and sparsely populated areas.
“I would carefully evaluate the impact on local resources and infrastructure, ensuring that development aligns with comprehensive planning and environmental protection.”
Still, he might favor a building moratorium. It could be “possibly justified in the Davenport and Haines City areas due to rapid growth straining existing infrastructure and services. Implementing a moratorium would allow time to address these issues and ensure that development proceeds in a sustainable and well-planned manner.”
Polk County has experienced rising congestion on many of its roads, such as U.S. 27. Many smaller roads are being overwhelmed by the increase in traffic volume.
“The County Commission should invest in expanding and upgrading major roads like U.S. 27 and improve smaller road networks to handle increased traffic,” he said. And, the county should implement better traffic management systems, public transportation and promote smart growth strategies to alleviate congestion and improve traffic flow.
Regarding a recent commissioner’s unsuccessful push for a half-cent sales tax increase to fund road construction, Coker said he favors a possible referendum.
“Voters deserve to weigh in on such decisions, and a consumption tax ensures that those who use the roads contribute to their funding, making it a fairer method of financing infrastructure improvements,” he said.
Polk County has some of the lowest road impact fees of any urban county, so Coker was asked if the county’s transportation impact fee is adequate and what would he propose.
“No, I don't think the county's transportation impact fee is adequate given the rapid growth and increasing demand on infrastructure,” he said. He added a review and increase of impact fees could better reflect the true cost of development “and ensure that new growth contributes fairly to the funding of necessary road improvements.”
In terms of new road projects in rural areas of Polk, including the Green Swamp, he said the County Commission should assess whether such projects are appropriate from a fiscal and growth-management perspective.
“The County Commission should make such assessments “by evaluating their environmental impact, conducting a cost-benefit analysis, ensuring infrastructure capacity, aligning with growth management plans, gathering community input, and identifying sustainable funding sources.”
A potential financial cloud hanging over the county is its judicial complex in Bartow, which was built 40 years ago and it is out of space.
When asked how to solve this issue, Coker said, “Yes, an expansion of the Polk County Judicial Complex is needed to ... ensure that our court system can operate effectively. Our citizens deserve a swift and efficient legal process, which requires adequate facilities.”
Financing could come from a combination of bonds, state and federal grants, public-private partnerships and incremental funding.
“A combination of these methods will help ensure the expansion meets our needs while maintaining fiscal responsibility,” Coker said.
Jennifer Price
Jennifer Price, 47, is a lifelong resident of Polk County and earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida in criminology and Spanish.
She has served for nonprofits in educational therapy, higher education and human resources in Polk County. In one role she provided, for example, she supported a program to recruit college students for teaching positions.
In another example of her stance on education, Price said “parental involvement within the schools and corresponding curriculum is crucial.“
Her family is active at Family Worship Center in Lakeland, volunteering in children’s ministry, as small group leaders and occasionally teaching in the school of discipleship.
Regarding issues, Price said she is “grounded in conservative values, guided by faith and is a dedicated problem solver with a commonsense approach.” She believes “local leadership should prioritize listening to the voices of those you represent.”
About overdevelopment, she said, “undercoordinated growth has caused strain on many areas in the county ... like traffic congestion because it's their (residents) daily struggle, but healthcare, schools and affordable housing are all impacted.
“I think it would be wise to scale back on high density building out in the rural areas where infrastructure is lacking to support such growth,” Price said. “I would love to see more tax credits for revitalizing older areas rather than clear cutting rural spaces in the county for incompatible development.
“I would champion promoting urban infill rather than promoting urban sprawl,” Price said.
“Our roads and traffic congestion need significant attention and a focus on these needs to be at the top of the priority list,” she added. “Mass transit will not solve all of the issues in the county.”
She wants a better infrastructure plan for the future to meet such needs.
In terms of healthcare, “While new hospitals and free-standing emergency rooms seem to be popping up all over, primary care is still a challenge for many in the community. Income requirements were relaxed a little recently for the Polk HealthCare Plan, but many residents remain in a financial squeeze.”
She had a take on the Polk County Public Schools as well, noting that it had more than 300 open teacher positions just a few weeks before school started.
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And, “The district is currently considering new school sites to accommodate growth, especially in the northeast part of the county.”
“The county must be cognizant of school impact when approving large-scale development in areas with already crowded conditions," Price said.
She added the teacher shortage could be addressed in Polk with the removal of barriers for those further from Lakeland to attract more qualified candidates.
“Partnerships between such local higher education programs (at Polk State) and PCPS will be critical to bringing qualified teachers to the classrooms," she said. "While it's not popular with many, I am not opposed to raising impact fees (not taxes) to boost revenue for PCPS and other needed infrastructure.”
On affordable housing, she said, “Fast-paced development drives up property values, which results in a shortage of affordable housing. The municipalities are doing a good job at managing what is available but until property values level off, this will continue to be a struggle.”
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For now, “Coordination of nonprofits and community organizations would help to expand options and provide support services” for individuals and families threatened by housing insecurity.
For the local economy, Price said, “small businesses are the backbone of the community” and she wants the county to partner with them as much as possible instead of always picking the lowest-price bid, which often means contracts go to companies out of state.
“Unfortunately, the low bid may be missing something in the scope of work or result in significant delays,” she said. “Doing business locally keeps money in our local economy and provides healthy competition for fair pricing.”
Such an approach would mean “more jobs with a corresponding decrease in need for public services,” she said.
The decisions we make over the next few years will determine whether Polk County maintains its unique charm or becomes just another bedroom community, she said.
“I will fight for quality of life, improved infrastructure, and the future of beautiful Polk County for current residents and future generations," she said.
Becky Troutman
Becky Troutman has been a Lakeland resident for 20 years working in real estate. Born in Ocala and raised in Highlands County, her professional experience also includes corporate trainings in Southwest Florida with Dale Carnegie.
She has also spent much of her career working with children and families in the community, she added. She operates two small businesses in school psychology and interior decorating.
Troutman earned a bachelor’s degree in special education and a master’s degree in educational leadership at the University of South Florida; and a master’s in counseling from Liberty University and Nova Southeastern. She is a licensed school psychologist and attends Trinity Presbyterian Church in Lakeland.
She served on the Polk County Planning Commission from 2017 to 2023, serving as its chairwoman for her last two years. She has also served with United Way of Central Florida, The Learning Resource Center and the Polk Sheriff’s Office advisory council.
Troutman said she would be a candidate who defends the county residents’ “conservative principles ... guided by those core values and my faith.”
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She referred to her ability to govern as “a common-sense approach.” Her residency in Winter Haven and Lakeland will enable her “to represent all voices in Polk County.”
Troutman gave four priorities for the commission should she be elected: ensure safe communities by fully funding Sheriff Grady Judd and first responders; develop a transportation plan for demand and reduced congestion; update the comprehensive plan for private property rights and smart growth; and attract and maintain industries to provide jobs and higher wages.
Regarding her approach on approvals of housing and other developments, especially in rural and lightly populated areas, she said, “All commissioners must make development decisions considering Polk’s Comprehensive Plan and Land Development Code, which needs to be updated to raise development standards and to align with community goals.
Among the most impactful yes vote for Troutman during her time on the Planning Commission was the proposed Creek Ranch development in August 2023 of more than 1,876 homes and a commercial development along Lake Hatchineha Road. The proposal passed the Planning Commission by just one vote after an outcry against its impact from local residents.
While she acknowledged congested roads were among the top issues residents face, under current Florida law the only legal limitations for development are water and sewer capacity as long as the development is found to be consistent and compatible with its surroundings. A developer's plans must also comply with the Polk County land development code and comprehensive plan.
“The comp plan is your rule book for development,” she said.
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Troutman said she would consider a moratorium on growth only if it aligned with state laws and the property rights of landowners. She cited the recent costly decision in Hillsborough County over a denial of a New Tampa golf course as a lesson in following state laws because the courts ultimately overturned the decision at the local level.
“If any area of the county meets the legal standards for a building moratorium, the board must respond accordingly.”
Polk County has experienced rising congestion on many of its roads, such as U.S. 27. Many smaller roads are being overwhelmed by the increase in traffic volume. Troutman said to address transportation issues, the commission must insist that all development, residential, commercial and industrial meet concurrency and pay its full share of funding.
Regarding a possible half-cent sales tax increase for road construction, Troutman said, “All revenue sources and options must be fully investigated before considering any new taxes.”
Regarding Polk County’s low road impact fees, she said, “Polk County currently faces nearly $3 billion in unfunded transportation projects. Our current fee structure is inadequate to meet these needs to address this shortfall. We should raise the transportation impact fees to the maximum allowed.”
But she added, “State law severely limits our ability to implement impact fees to match study recommendations, further constraining our efforts to fund necessary infrastructure improvements.”
Regarding proposals to build new or expanded roadways into rural areas of Polk, including the Green Swamp, she said, “Any and all new road projects must be vetted in the public arena ensuring dialogue around cost, growth patterns and the impact to natural resources."
And on the topic of the space crunch at the Judicial Complex, “When new judge positions are authorized, the county is responsible for funding these positions and providing adequate workspace. Any expansion of these services would likely be funded through bonding.”
Campaign contributions
Troutman had received campaign donations as early as April 2023, several months before leaving the Planning Commission.
As of July, she had reported $138,138 in campaign contributions, many from land developers and home builders, including many that have gained approvals or recommendations from the Planning Commission while Troutman served on the panel.
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Winter Haven-based Cassidy corporations sent checks of $1,000 each for entities including GLK Real Estate, Cassidy Land Development, CH Dev, VMAR Dev and Lakeville Partners – for a total of $5,000.
Other developers include CBD Land Investors LLC of Celebration and Center State Development Group, the developer behind the Creek Ranch proposal, with Commissioner George Lindsey, Bob Adams and Reggie Baxter among its managing members.
Home builders Hickman Homes and Hulbert Homes, the electric utility TECO (which operates a solar farm in Polk), and J. Greg Ruthven of The Ruthvens warehousing family also sent over a check.
So did attorney Keaton Alexander, a Tallahassee lobbyist and the daughter of J.D. Alexander. J.D. Alexander was behind the Scenic Terrace school project and has submitted a bid that is pending to build a new high school in northeastern Polk County.
Elected officials donating include School Board member William Allen, County Commission Chairman Bill Braswell, Commissioner Martha Santiago and Lakeland Mayor Bill Mutz and his wife, who each added funds.
Donors also included the family or relatives of Publix Super Markets Inc. George Jenkins, including Hoyt "Barney" Barnett, Ashley Bell Barnett and Gregory Fancelli.
Organizations included the Lakeland NAACP and Northeast Polk PAC.
Realtors Political Activity Committee and Realtors Political Advocacy Committee each added another $1,000, as did Lakeland commercial real estate brokers Dean Saunders and Todd Dantzler.
The tally for Troutman puts her at a financial advantage by nearly four times more in money to spend on her campaign as her nearest competitor, Coker, and about eight times more money than Price.
By comparison, Coker has $34,553 with Paula Dockery, Brian Dockery, Nicholas Barnett and his wife, Ashley Gibson Barnett, and Gregory Fancelli among recognizable donors.
Price’s war chest contained $17,438 as of July. Her $1,000 donors included The Julia J. Fancelli Living Trust, Gregory Fancelli, Betty Daniel of Lakeland and George and Erica O'Neill of Lake Wales, Advanced Wound Care LLC, and Beasley, Bryant & Company CPA.
This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Three Republicans face off in primary for Polk Commission District 1
