Bowling Green Mayor Sam Fite has been named the 2026 Ridge League of Cities “Municipal Official of the Year”.   Mayor Fite was awarded the Nettie Draughon Award at the League’s October Membership Dinner Meeting hosted by the City of Haines City.  Sam previously served on the Bowling Green City Commission from 1992 to1999, and again since returning to the Commission in 2012.  He has served as a member of the Ridge League Board of Directors since 2013 and served as President in 2018.  He has served on numerous committees of the Florida League of Cities, including Federal Action Strike Team, Municipal Administration Legislative Policy, Economic Development and Growth Management, and Advocacy.  In addition to serving on the FLC Board of Directors, he has been recipient of the Home Rule Hero Award for the past nine years. 

In his nomination application from the City of Bowling Green, it was noted that Sam has been involved with the City of Bowling Green since the age of 6 when his father was a city commissioner and mayor. He tells the story of how his father oversaw building the city’s first wastewater plant in the late 1960’s.  They would visit the work site daily and Sam was responsible for counting the materials (pipes, etc.) delivered, making sure the count matched what was purchased.  His father taught him the importance of being responsible for taxpayer dollars.  That was the start of what would be over a twenty-year period of public service, and second generation elected official. 

He has dedicated a big part of his life to serving the City of Bowling Green and Hardee County.  He continues to make a lasting contribution to the improvement of municipal government with his continued service with both the Ridge League of Cities and Florida League of Cities.

This annual award is named in memory of former Ridge League of Cities Executive Director Nettie Draughon who worked in municipal government for 57 years, rising from secretary to city manager for the City of Plant City.  Nettie served as a reminder of what an honorable career public service can be.  

Congratulations Mayor Fite!