After leading the Lakeland City Commission since 2018, Mayor Bill Mutz has announced he will not run for reelection when his current term concludes in December 2025.

Over the last six years, Mayor Mutz has co-led several initiatives alongside the City Commission and other community agencies, including:

Creating LkldArts.org, a comprehensive guide to Lakeland's art scene sponsored by the Mayor's Council of the Arts
Launching "Lift Lakeland," an initiative with aims to increase economic, educational, and civic involvement + improve community-centered relationships through various programs
Leading negotiations with city staff to add passenger flights at Lakeland Linder International Airport

In an interview with LkldNow, Mutz stated that he feels confident about the city's future thanks to the leadership within the City Commission, but he still plans to keep a boots-on-the-ground approach through the end of his term.

The election for Mayor Mutz's replacement will be held in November 2025. Interested candidates must file before the period ends in September 2025, though official dates have not yet been announced. Get to know more about Lakeland's government system and how you can get involved.