Local Municpal Elections
City of Haines City, City Commission Seat 5 Runoff Election will be held on April 29th.
Candidate Bios & Pics: All wording and pictures were provided by the Candidates
City of Haines City, City Commission Seat 5 Runoff Election April 29th
Incumbent, Anne Huffman -
Thank you, NE Polk Chamber of Commerce, for the invitation and thanks to everyone. I am Commissioner Anne Huffman, and have served you since 2017, making YOUR concerns, MY concerns. I have survived breast cancer twice and recently received a heart transplant, this highlights my fearlessness and fierce determination to represent your voice and make decisions in the best interests of the residents. A vote for me will ensure continued fairness, respect, and a commitment to serve you with humility.
I will advocate for the business community to be treated fairly and with consideration of their time and resources. There will be more community discussions to address concerns. Immediate solutions will be sought for the overgrowth issue, and I will hold the City Manager and his team accountable for finding innovative ways to update regulations and ordinances.
My selective memberships include the Florida League of Women Voters, NE Polk Chamber, Polk County League of Women Voters, Women In Government, Florida League of Cities Education Committee, Puerto Rican/Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, LULAC and NAACP -Lakeland Chapter.
I continue to ask that information is also communicated in Spanish and Creole. Our city faces divisions beyond the physical sense. I aim to address this by supporting the organizers of more community events, youth activities in other sports, arts and downtown gatherings to bring people together. I understand that finding parking downtown is difficult and affects small businesses and I have been asking for the purchase of available land to ensure more parking and larger signs in the downtown area and encouraging commercial and industrial businesses to provide skill training for residents.
Traffic congestion has become a significant issue, making trips that previously took 15 minutes now take an hour. The streets and avenues are deteriorating and require repaving. There are safety concerns due to the lack of traffic lights and turning lanes, particularly with traffic backups on Hinson and Highway 27. I am in favor of increasing the impact fees on developers and builders and finding ways to better manage growth to allow infrastructure to keep pace. However, without receiving their property taxes, the county benefits while our residents cover costs for services like libraries, parks, police, and fire.
Additionally, since 2017, I have asked for lowering the Fire Assessment fee now that more homeowners share the expense. In 2014, this assessment received a favorable vote from my opponent and 10 years later we are still paying.
These topics are among those I look forward to continuing a discussion with the City Manager to include increased impact fees for new commercial and industrial businesses. I support allowing mobile food trucks that follow the state laws and regulations, keeping current licenses and passing State Health inspections.
The future of our city is set to thrive with economic development, parks and recreation facilities, infrastructure repairs, and community redevelopment plans which I advocated to keep $3.4M for residential rehab on their homes through painting, roof replacement, providing HVAC, minor inside electrical and plumbing.
As a city commissioner, I plan to keep in constant contact with our open-minded City Manager. We need quicker response times for permitting and building inspection follow-ups. Unlike us, Winter Haven and Lakeland's libraries are open all day on Saturdays, their recreation facilities are accessible daily and weekends, and their permitting hours suit business owners. I am ready to continue working with our capable City Manager and his team to make these improvements.
My commitment to the residents is that I will only vote to spend tax dollars on necessary infrastructure, technology, and justified operational expenses that benefit residents. The Eastside community still lacks amenities despite recent additions like the Haines City Soccer Complex, which is also designated as a multi-purpose field.
I support the High-Speed Rail stop and the Polk State College campus in our city. I am proud to see my strong efforts come to fruition on the new restrooms and concession stand on Myers-Wiley field. I advocated for a "commercial" HVAC, new flooring and improved acoustics in the Oakland Auditorium. The inclusion of the Families with Special Needs kids is dear to my heart and now Boomerang Park completed with special attention for them and is handicap accessible. I also recommended and participated in two private “pool parties” complete with food and bounce houses for our special residents.
A vote for me ensures transparency, tough questions asked of developers, and quick responsive answers to your concerns. I will continue to promote the fair treatment of businesses and address community concerns at city commission meetings.
I would appreciate your vote on April 1st or for your convenience you can Vote By Mail by calling the Polk Elections Office at 863-534-5888 by March 30, 2025.
Horace West -
My Name is Horace West. I am seeking election to seat #5 on the Haines City, City Commission.
I was born in Haines City and have lived in Haines City all my life.
I attended Haines City High where I excelled in Sports and the Arts.
I attended Bethune-Cookman University on a football/track scholarship
I obtained a B.S. Degree in Business Administration.
Soon after college graduation, I returned home hoping to make Haines City a better place to live, work and play.
Shortly after returning to Haines City, I founded "Today's Gentleman Organization".
Today's Gentlemen was a group of young men who's mission was to enhance all of Haines City by creating and administering social and athletic events.
Under my leadership, Today's Gentlemen created the Haines City Easter Egg Hunt, Painted the bridges, held the first Martin Luther King Jr parade in Polk County.
In addition, they mowed cemeteries and created athletic events for the youth of the city.
Soon after that I began working for Atlantic Bank in Lake Wales.
Three Year's later I was hired by State Farm Insurance Company of Bloomington Il.
I spent 32 years at State Farm working mostly as an Underwriting Team Manager then retiring as a Fire Underwriter.
During those years at State Farm, I turned down many opportunities that would have given me personal financial stability. Choosing to serve the people of Haines City instead..
In 1991 I brought Youth Football to the youth of Haines City by founding the Haines City Rattlers, then later the Northeast Rattlers and Haines City Vipers.
For more than 2 decades I paid for every child to participate in the programs free of charge.
After the success of the Rattlers, I later founded youth football teams in Winter Haven, Auburndale, Davenport, Lakeland and Mulberry.
My intent was to bring joy to the youth of those communities.
In 2001 I ran for City Commission and won the right to serve the citizens of Haines City from seat #2.
During my first term on the commission, I was instrumental in purchasing 32 acres behind Larry Parrish Complex for future expansion of the facility.
I also worked personally with the Polk School Board to acquire the land and Park that is now known as Ben Graham Park.
During my 22 years on the commission, I donated my commission salary back to the Haines City community for 20 straight years, including purchasing state football rings for Haines City High's 1973 undefeated football team, righting a wrong done 47 years earlier when they did not receive rings for their remarkable achievement.
I most recently created the North American Youth Football Championships, which brings thousands of people from all over North America to Haines City for a week.
This tournament has brought tremendous economic impact to our city.
More than 60 people were employed during the tournament with 95% being Haines City residents.
I continue to believe in economic growth and the education and preparation of the Haines City workforce for the coming job market and changes that lay ahead.
I continue to see my hometown as light of Polk County and beacon of hope for future generations yet to be born.