Twenty Ridge League officials were recently honored by the Florida League of Cities and named 2026 “Home Rule Heroes”.    The Award recipients are local government officials, both elected and nonelected, who consistently respond to the Florida League of Cities request to reach out to members of the Legislature and help give a local perspective on important issues. They work tirelessly throughout the legislative session to promote local decision-making, protect the Home Rule powers of Florida’s municipalities, and advance the League’s Legislative Platform.  Home Rule Hero Award recipients are selected by the League’s legislative team following each legislative session.

Matt Singer, FLC Legislative Advocate with the Florida League of Cities presented twenty (20) Ridge League officials with the 2026 Home Rule Hero Awards at the September Membership Dinner in Winter Haven.  Recipients included:

Judy Wertz Strickland, Mayor – Arcadia

Keith Keene, Council Member – Arcadia

Steve Parker, Police Chief – Davenport

Cory Coler, Mayor – Eagle Lake

Dawn Wright, City Clerk – Eagle Lake

Adam Greenway, Council Member – Frostproof

Morris West, Commissioner – Haines City

Mac Fuller, Mayor – Lake Alfred

Nancy Daley, Vice Mayor – Lake Alfred

Jack Dearmin, Commissioner – Lake Alfred

Ryan Leavengood, City Manager – Lake Alfred

Olivia Minshew, City Clerk – Wauchula

T. Michael Stavres, City Manager – Winter Haven

Scott Black, Mayor – Dade City

Unable to attend:

Leo Longworth, City Commissioner – Bartow

Trish Pfeiffer, City Commissioner – Bartow

Mike Herr, City Manager – Bartow

Sam Fite, Mayor – Bowling Green

N’Kosi Jones, Vice Mayor – Bowling Green

Angelia Guy, City Clerk – Dade City