Organization
Partnership Lakeland is a citizen’s political action committee comprised of local residents dedicated to recruiting and electing the most qualified candidates to run for local office. PL was formed in March 1999 and is registered with the State of Tennessee and the Shelby County Election Commission as a Political Action Committee.
Partnership Lakeland does not accept donations from outside sources and depends upon membership dues and donations to fund its efforts. The bylaws preclude accepting contributions from other political action committees, political parties, trade associations, and corporate entities.
Click here to view the entire set of bylaws.
Mission Statement: To promote and support the candidacy of qualified individuals for elected offices that will actively and harmoniously represent all citizens and respond to community issues within the framework of the City Manager – Commissioner Charter.
Purposes and Objectives: The purpose of the Partnership is to promote the welfare of the residents, property owners and the business community in the City of Lakeland (City) by actively promoting and supporting the election of qualified candidates for elected 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.
To attain this overall purpose, the membership will perform the following functions:
(a) Evaluate candidates in the context of the platform that a candidate offers the voters.
(b) Promote consistency and fairness in the evaluation of candidates.
(c) Endorse not more than one candidate for each vacant position in an upcoming election.
(d) Decide by means of a vote of the membership which candidate(s) will be endorsed by the Partnership in such election.
(e) Provide active support for the candidates that are endorsed.
(f) Disseminate through print and/or electronic means information pertaining to the Partnership’s support of candidates that are endorsed.
(g) Do those things necessary to promote the welfare of the larger community by supporting qualified candidates.
(h) Ensure that the Partnership remains active in all City elections.
(i) Undertake the above tasks in a non-partisan manner divorced from any affiliation to a political party or any other special interest.
(j) To further promote communication with those seeking [or holding] such other elected office as may have a direct bearing on the welfare of the residents, property owners and business community in the City.
Function
Elections
In an election year, Partnership Lakeland invites each candidate to seek PL endorsement. PL prepares a list of 5 pertinent questions and sends them to each candidate. The candidates are asked to submit written responses. A forum (general meeting) is held to interview all candidates. Through the forum, each candidate has the opportunity to give a brief presentation on their candidacy and then answer questions from PL members attending the Forum. Members then rate each candidate on how well he/she meets the PL goals stated above.
The written responses from the candidates are available at the Forum and are also sent to each PL member. Ballots submitted at the Forum meeting, as well as ballots mailed to the membership, are tabulated. The candidate(s) with the most votes are chosen for support by the membership. PL endorses only one candidate for each open position.
The candidate(s) who are chosen by the PL membership for endorsement receive PL support in the form of door-to-door assistance, candidate home events, financial assistance, paid advertising in Citywatch, and PL communication to all citizens on why these candidates are viewed as best for the city. PL members are under no requirement to vote for the endorsed candidates.
Community
Partnership Lakeland also takes an active role in the community. Past and ongoing community endeavors include
- Production of City Maps which were mailed to every household in Lakeland (2001, 2005)
- Holding regular Voter Registration drives to encourage all eligible voters to vote
- Hosting Political Forums for State and County Elections to allow citizens to meet and question candidates (held in addition to the Forums for Lakeland Elections)
- Promoting citizen participation in City government
History
In the late 1990's, the government of Lakeland was quite different than it is today. Internally, there was disagreement within the Board of Commissioners that detracted from their role in addressing the welfare of the citizens in its deliberations and decisions. Recognizing the problem, a group of concerned citizens began to meet weekly. These citizens represented every subdivision that existed in 1999. With an upcoming election, their desire was to determine how to encourage candidates to address the critical issues of the city in a positive, informed, and impartial manner.It is from this group that Partnership Lakeland emerged, taking the bold initiative to set forth a model outline for a political platform with the hope that each candidate would use it to construct their individual platforms. The group also took the bold step to invite any Lakeland resident to join as a member of Partnership Lakeland.
The founders of Partnership Lakeland include: Diane Eason from Stonebridge; Gerry Burditt from the rural area; Bob Wallis from Plantation Hills; Pete Riley (former Commissioner), Gerrit Verschuur, and Don Bennett from Lakeland Estates; and Al Scrip from Woodland Park.
From its beginnings, Partnerhip Lakeland has not been aligned with any incumbent on the Board of Commissioners, any political party or any city association or club.
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Candidates
Since its formation, all candidates endorsed by Partnership Lakeland have won their campaign and been elected.
| 2007 | Mark Hartz, Randy Nicholson and Gerrit Verschuur for Commissioner |
| 2005 | Scott Carmichael for Mayor; Matthew Beatty for Commissioner* |
| 2003 | Stephanie Anderson and Mark Hartz for Commissioner |
| 2001 | Scott Carmichael for Mayor; Judy Bennett and Gerrit Verschuur for Commissioner |
| 1999 | Patra Temple and Mark Hartz for Commissioner |
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