Guided by the belief that all politics is local and the best strategy for sustained legislative success is one that continually engages local officials’ participation.  We encourage all Ridge League city officials to be active in the legislative process.  From the smallest city to the largest, from Arcadia in the south to Zephyrhills in the north, WE STAND TOGETHER TO SUPPORT LOCAL AUTHORITY.

Legislative Advocacy

Florida League of Cities Legislative Priorities

2024 State Legislative Save the Date

#CommonGrounds

Brew up stronger relationships with your legislators! When state and local officials work together, Floridians benefit. We must collaborate to solve problems and improve Florida. 

To help us foster and build these relationships, I am excited to announce that this year’s focus will be themed around my way of breaking the ice: coffee and conversation, or what we will call  #commongrounds. 

By finding #commongrounds, we put people over politics, access over agendas and success over shouting. 

These face-to-face meetings in a low-stress environment can accomplish a lot in a short amount of time. I also encourage you not to talk shop but to get to know your legislator. This fall, lawmakers will be back in their districts. And after the election, we will undoubtedly welcome newly elected legislators. This situation presents a perfect opportunity to connect or reconnect with your state leaders. Learn what is important to them, and ask them what we can do to help them have a successful upcoming session.

Let’s bring home a strategic partnership that will benefit all of Florida and all we serve because Floridians deserve leadership that works for them.

Below you will find the #commongrounds toolkit of resources. I hope each of you finds something helpful or motivational to start these conversations with your legislators.

#CommonGrounds Toolkit

While it’s up to the individual to find the right coffee shop, this toolkit provides some tips and information that will lay the foundation for a good start. In this toolkit you will find information about: 

  • Relationship types
  • Tips for overcoming the political divide
  • How to localize issues
  • And more!
Download Toolkit

Advocacy Toolkit

The Florida League of Cities is proud to share this comprehensive Advocacy Toolkit for elected officials.

Whether you’re a newly elected official or you’ve been in office for a number of years, The Advo-Kit advocacy toolkit from the Florida League of Cities has something for every local leader to help make your advocacy even more successful.

New to office? The Advo-Kit has sections explaining the importance of Home Rule and examples of legislation that impact your community, as well as information on contacting your legislators, crafting your message and building relationships with legislators.

For those officials already experienced in advocating, The Advo-Kit has resources for you too, such as working with the media to spread your message and suggestions on media outlets to follow, as well as reminders on how to properly testify in front of legislative committees and keys to lobbying in person, virtually or via email.

Let The Advo-Kit help to ensure your advocacy is as successful and impactful as possible.

Home Rule Heroes

The Florida League of Cities is recognizing nearly 160 municipal officials from around the state with Home Rule Hero Awards for their work during the 2024 legislative session.  Congratulations and Thank You to the eighteen municipal officials from the Ridge League for your advocacy.

Home Rule Hero Award recipients are local government officials, both elected and non-elected, who consistently responded to the League’s request to reach out to members of the legislature and help give a local perspective on an issue. They worked tirelessly throughout the legislative session to promote local voices making local choices, protect the Home Rule powers of Florida’s municipalities and advance the League’s legislative agenda.

“On behalf of the League and its legislative team, we’re very proud to present this year’s Home Rule Hero Awards to a deserving group of municipal leaders,” said FLC Director of Legislative Affairs Casey Cook. “We had a record number of Home Rule Heroes this year, which shows the dedication and impact of local officials on behalf of their residents and businesses in protecting local decision-making. They’re heroes for Home Rule and we thank them for their efforts.” 

The following local officials were constantly engaged and actively advocating for their communities throughout the 2024 Legislative Session. Members from the Ridge League are bolded.

2024 Florida League of Cities Home Rule Heroes – L to R, Brian Yates, Dawn Wright, Morris West, Judy Wertz Strickland, Jeff Tillman, Dorothea Taylor Bogert, Trish Pfeiffer, Olivia Minshew, Steve Hunnicutt, Sam Fite, Jeremy Clark, and Sam Wagoner, Florida League of Cities Legislative Advocate.  Not pictured: Scott Black, Angelia Guy, Mike Herr, Leo Longworth, Shawn Sherrouse, Ryan Leavengood, and T. Michael Stavres

  • Deputy Mayor Diana Adams, City of West Melbourne
  • Vice Mayor Jen Ahearn-Koch, City of Sarasota
  • Jeremy Allen, Village Manager, Village of Tequesta
  • Manny Anon, City Attorney, City of Melbourne
  • Courtney Barker, City Manager, City of Satellite Beach
  • Councilor Thom Barnhorn, City of Seminole
  • Mayor Pat Bates, City of Altamonte Springs
  • David Birchim, City Manager, City of St. Augustine
  • Commissioner B.J. Bishop, Town of Longboat Key
  • Commissioner Scott Black, City of Dade City
  • Mayor Michael Blake, City of Cocoa
  • Tim Bolduc, City Manager, City of Crestview
  • Commissioner Marlon D. Bolton, City of Tamarac
  • Commissioner Rufus Borom, City of Palatka
  • Council Member Julia Botel, City of Riviera Beach
  • Terry Bovaird, City Manager, City of Williston
  • George Brown, City Manager, City of Boca Raton
  • Mayor Woody Brown, City of Largo
  • Councilmember Doug Bryant, City of Mount Dora
  • Commissioner Anthony N. Caggiano, City of Margate
  • Commissioner Traci L. Callari, City of Hollywood
  • Leondrae D. Camel, City Manager, City of South Bay
  • Sarah Campbell, Town Manager, Town of Orange Park
  • Vice Mayor Jolien Caraballo, City of Port St. Lucie
  • Commissioner Joy Carter, City of Coral Springs
  • Commissioner Carolyn Cassidy, Town of Ocean Ridge
  • Vice Mayor Jeremy Clark, City of Davenport
  • Mayor Christopher Cloudman, City of DeLand
  • Ed Cook, City Manager, City of Callaway
  • Vice President Michael Cox, City of Williston
  • Mayor John E. Dailey, City of Tallahassee
  • Nicole Delfino, Strategy & Sustainability Manager, City of Dunedin
  • Commissioner Lisa Devitto, City of Cresent City
  • Council Member Kevin Docherty, Town of Ocean Breeze
  • Mayor Ed Dodd, City of Sebastian
  • Commissioner Todd Drosky, City of Deerfield Beach
  • Council Member Yvette Drucker, City of Boca Raton
  • Commissioner Joe Elliot, City of Wildwood
  • Deric Feacher, City Manager, City of Daytona Beach
  • Brenda Fettrow, City Manager, City of Rockledge
  • Mayor Cherry Fitch, City of Gulf Breeze
  • Vice Mayor Sam Fite, City of Bowling Green
  • Deputy Mayor Fred Forbes, City of Bonita Springs
  • Mayor Curtis Ford, City of Atlantic Beach
  • Sue Frank, City Clerk, City of Indian Harbour Beach
  • Mayor Mark Franks, Town of Shalimar
  • Vice Mayor Joshua D. Fuller, Town of Bay Harbor Islands
  • Commissioner Eric Gerard, City of Largo
  • Mayor Anne Gerwig, Village of Wellington
  • Councilmember Mindy Gibson, City of Satellite Beach
  • Ella Gilbert, Interim Risk Management Dir., City of Port St. Lucie
  • Vice Mayor Kimberly Glas-Castro, Town of Lake Park
  • Deputy Mayor Stuart “Stu” Glass, Town of Indialantic
  • Reese Goad, City Manager, City of Tallahassee
  • Commissioner Penny Gold, Town of Longboat Key
  • Councilwoman Sandy Golding, City of Jacksonville Beach
  • Jorge Gonzalez, City Manager, Village of Bal Harbour
  • Councilwoman Lisa Gonzalez Moore, City of Bradenton
  • Mayor Charles Goodman, City of Williston
  • Michael Grebosz, Asst. City Manager, City of DeLand
  • Mayor John Gunter, City of Cape Coral
  • Angelia Guy, City Clerk, City of Dade City
  • Charles Hammond, City Manager, City of Archer
  • Mayor Rodney Harris, City of Miami Gardens
  • Council Member Janet Hernández, Village of Indiantown
  • Mike Herr, City Manager, City of Bartow
  • Council Member Darfness Hinds, City of Williston
  • Councilman Jeff Hmara, Village of Royal Palm Beach
  • Councilmember Denise Horland, City of Plantation
  • Mayor Linda Hudson, City of Fort Pierce
  • Steven Hunnicutt, Assistant City Manager, City of Davenport
  • Councilman Dan Janson, City of Jacksonville Beach
  • Commissioner Chris Johnson, City of Largo
  • Council President Debra Jones, City of Williston
  • Mayor Allan Kaulbach, City of Atlantis
  • Councilwoman NanDrycka King Albert, City of Midway
  • Mayor Joe Kyles, City of South Bay
  • Vice Mayor Greg Langowski, City of Westlake
  • Lori LaVerriere, City Manager, City of Palm Beach Gardens
  • Ryan Leavengood, City Manager, City of Lake Alfred
  • R. Max Lohman, City Attorney, City of Palm Beach Gardens
  • Mayor Leo Longworth, City of Bartow
  • Commissioner Sarah Malega, City of Lake Worth Beach
  • Mayor Lynne Matthews, City of Punta Gorda
  • Commissioner Bob Mayersohn, City of Parkland
  • Andrea McCue, City Manager, City of Greenacres
  • Commissioner Debbie McDowell, City of North Port
  • Horace A. McHugh, Deputy City Manager, City of Deerfield Beach
  • Michael McNees, City Manager, City of Marco Island
  • Judy Meyers, City Clerk, City of New Port Richey
  • Councilman Fernando Meza, City of Jacksonville Beach
  • Mayor Nancy Miller, City of Daytona Beach Shores
  • Greg Mims, City Manager, City of Indian Rocks Beach
  • Olivia Minshew, City Manager, City of Wauchula
  • Councilmember Yvonne Minus, City of Melbourne
  • Brian Moree, City Manager, City of Atlantis
  • Councilwoman Stephanie Morgan, City of Port St. Lucie
  • Commissioner Danny Nugent, City of Starke
  • Councilmember Bernard “Bernie” Oder, City of Mary Esther
  • Commissioner Tony Ortiz, City of Orlando
  • Mayor Steve Osmer, City of Satellite Beach
  • Mayor Karen Ostrand, Town of Ocean Breeze
  • Mayor Lois Paritsky, Town of Ponce Inlet
  • Mayor Bill Partington, City of Ormond Beach
  • Commissioner Susan Persis, City of Ormond Beach
  • Commissioner Trish Pfeiffer, City of Bartow
  • Mayor Chelsea Reed, City of Palm Beach Gardens
  • Adam Reichbach, Assistant City Manager, City of Hollywood
  • Mayor Betty Resch, City of Lake Worth Beach
  • Vice Mayor Joanne Ribble, Village of Estero
  • Vice Mayor Campbell Rich, City of Stuart
  • Commissioner Jamie Robinson, City of Largo
  • Vice Mayor Jan Rodusky, Village of Royal Palm Beach
  • Councilman Cal Rolfson, City of Mount Dora
  • Mayor Greg Ross, City of Cooper City
  • Mayor Dylan Rumrell, City of St. Augustine Beach
  • Council Member Isaac Salver, Town of Bay Harbor Islands
  • Mayor Dan Saracki, City of Oldsmar
  • Commission Chair Terry Schaefer, City of Holmes Beach
  • Councilman William Schaetzle, City of Niceville
  • Mayor Ken Schneier, Town of Longboat Key
  • William “Mac” Serda, Town Manager, Town of Hillsboro Beach
  • Joyce Shanahan, City Manager, City of Ormond Beach
  • Suzanne Sherman, City Manager, City of Palm Bay
  • Shawn Sherrouse, City Manager, City of Lakeland
  • Mayor Nancy Sikes-Kline, City of St. Augustine
  • Shari Simmans, Director, Economic Development, City of DeBary
  • Commissioner Joanne Simone, City of Margate
  • Mayor Scott Singer, City of Boca Raton
  • Councilmember Holly D. Smith, City of Sanibel
  • Commissioner Fortuna Smukler, City of North Miami Beach
  • Matthew Spoor, City Manager, City of Safety Harbor
  • Councilor Trish Springer, City of Seminole
  • Mike Staffopoulos, City Manager, City of Jacksonville Beach
  • Vice Mayor Susan Starkey, Town of Davie
  • T. Michael Stavres, City Manager, City of Winter Haven
  • Council Member Sarah Stoeckel, City of Titusville
  • Commissioner Robert Stuart, City of Orlando
  • Debra Sullivan, City Administrator, City of Belleair Bluffs
  • Malise Sundstrom, Council Member, Town of Jupiter
  • Mayor Dorothea Taylor Bogert, City of Auburndale
  • Darrel Thomas, Assistant City Manager, City of Weston
  • Christine M. Thrower-Skinner, Village Manager, Village of Golf
  • Jeff Tillman, City Manager, City of Auburndale
  • Ann Toney-Deal, City Manager City of Seminole
  • Mayor Chris Via, City of Holly Hill
  • Commissioner Jeniffer Viscarra, City of Sunny Isles Beach
  • Mayor Leslie Waters, City of Seminole
  • Mayor Dowling Watford, City of Okeechobee
  • Councilmember Teresea Watkins Brown, City of Fort Myers
  • Councilmember Judy Wertz Strickland, City of Arcadia
  • Commissioner Morris West, City of Haines City
  • Mayor JB Whitten, City of Crestview
  • Mayor David Will, Town of Redington Beach
  • Commissioner Dianne Williams-Cox, City of Tallahassee
  • Commissioner, Pro Tem Rosemary Wilsen, City of Ocoee
  • Mayor Steve Wilson, City of Belle Glade
  • Dawn Wright, City Clerk, City of Eagle Lake
  • Latricia Wright, City Clerk, City of Williston
  • Council Member Robert H. Yaffe, Town of Bay Harbor Islands
  • Mayor Pro Tem Brian Yates, City of Winter Haven
  • Mayor Molly Young, Village of Tequesta