City voters will decide during the Nov. 4 election whether candidates for city council and mayor should live in the city for at least six months prior to running for office. ...more

October 22, 2008

Former Mayor Joe Johnston III wants to get back on the city council. ...more

August 30, 2008

Councilman Bill Brantley made his resignation official at Tuesday's special town council meeting. ...more

August 28, 2008

Most people drive down the city's main thoroughfare and see a ghost town of empty sidewalks, unfilled storefronts, vagrants and for-sale signs. ...more

February 14, 2008

City Councilwoman Celia Graham, who served during one of the most turbulent political times in Zephyrhills history, will not seek re-election, she said Tuesday. ...more

February 6, 2008

AVON PARK — After nearly 100 voters climbed up the steps of City Hall for the early elections last week, Avon Park's two polls are now prepped for a combined crowd to reach into four figures as the city elects a mayor and a new councilman. Mayor Sharon Schuler will try to hold on to the mayor's office, facing challenges from RCMA Technology Director Ed Dickerson, Local Advocacy Council Chairman Gonzalo Lezama and former Mayor Gordon Marshall. Avon Park Air Force Range mechanic Paul Miller, retired pastor James Rahenkamp, middle school teacher Al Hinson and Army National Guard Staff Sgt. Michael Shirey are running for a council seat being vacated by Doug Eason, who chose not to seek re-election. ...more

November 6, 2007

AVON PARK — If the size of a candidate's bank account is a clue in who's going to win the election, then Mayor Sharon Schuler is way ahead in the mayoral race, while James Rahenkamp has a comfortable lead in the race for Doug Eason's open council seat. According to campaign treasurer's reports submitted Oct. 19 to the city, Schuler didn't need to use a dime of her own money to raise $1,335 in her campaign. Rahenkamp, meanwhile, plunked $200 of his own money and collected more than $820 from a handful of big-dollar donators in his council bid. On the expenses, Schuler spent $1,119, almost double the amount spent by Gonzalo Lezama, the next-biggest spender for the mayoral race. Rahenkamp has held on to most of his contributions, spending a mere $428.81 as of Oct. 12. Notably, Schuler was the only candidate to use campaign mailers. Even though Paul Miller bought business cards, none of the other six candidates spent money on any other form of advertising, using their funds only for filing fees and campaign signs. Several of the other candidates bankrolled their campaigns using mostly their own money. Mayoral contestants Ed Dickerson and Gordon Marshall relied only on their own wallets to raise $641.87 and $300, respectively. ...more

October 30, 2007

Avon Park is making history this week as the city will hold early voting for the first time for local offices. To mark the occasion, we hope that voters – and lots of them – will take advantage of the opportunity beginning Monday and continuing through Nov. 2. Voters can either go to Avon Park City Hall from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Friday, or request an absentee ballot through the Supervisor of Elections office. If requesting an absentee ballot, voters must do so by Wednesday to get it mailed to them, or they can have somebody pick it up for them if they ask for it afterward. ...more

October 28, 2007