In addition to electing a new mayor and two commissioners, Lakeland voters opted to raise the maximum number of years city commissioners can serve from 12 to 20.
There were three proposed amendments to the city’s charter on the ballot Tuesday. Amendments 1 and 3 were fairly noncontroversial, designed to clean up the charter and comply with state laws. They passed with 75.4% and 71.9% respectively.
The vote was much closer on Amendment 2, asking whether to loosen the commission term limits that voters imposed in 2019. That measure passed with 57.9% of the vote.
More time to get things done
Currently, Lakeland commissioners can serve a lifetime maximum of three terms for a total of 12 years. It doesn’t matter if the terms are as mayor or a commissioner…