Troller Elected to At-Large Seat

Teacher and coach defeats Realtor Dockery in run-off election after tough campaign.

By Diane Lacey Allen, The Ledger

Wednesday, December 5, 2007

LAKELAND | Justin Troller, a Lakeland High School teacher and tireless campaigner, easily defeated Brian Dockery in Tuesday's runoff election for a seat on the Lakeland City Commission.

Troller won the nonpartisan race with 61 percent of the vote in an aggressive campaign that in its final days pitted unions vs. business leaders and Republicans vs. Democrats. Troller had 4,343 votes to 2,777 for Dockery.

The election drew 14.4 percent of Lakeland's 49,834 registered voters - a turnout almost as high as the 15 percent for the Nov. 6 election when three candidates were in the race for the at-large seat and nearly double what is usually expected for city runoffs.

"I just think it's a reflection of hard work," Troller said Tuesday night. "A lot of hardworking people sacrificed their time off, their vacation, to support me and, in turn, it's really supporting the citizens who live here."

Troller, 30, had lost two previous attempts for city commissioner in 2000 and 2005.

Dockery, a 46-year-old Realtor and retired military officer, was a newcomer to city politics, but had the benefit of a well-known name. His aunt is state Sen. Paula Dockery.

"I think he (Troller) probably had a better campaign," said Dockery. "He ran a very good campaign and connected with the people. And people came out and voted."

"It's time to put all the negative stuff behind us, and just get Justin in there and do what's best for the city," he said.

Dockery raised $61,539 thanks to well-connected business people and political action committees for the Lakeland Area Chamber of Commerce and the Polk County Builders Association. Troller's $37,419 was backed by PACs and unions that represented plumbers and teachers along with Lakeland Electric and city and fire workers.

Commissioners are paid $16,878 a year. Troller has said if he was elected he would donate his commission salary to charity.

Colorful Contrast

Troller and Dockery both attracted fierce defenders, who filled editorial pages with letters and roadsides with signs.

The match-up created an almost David vs. Goliath backdrop as the young, energetic Troller took on the older, more established Dockery.

Troller particularly hit a chord with his peers, including the woman who filled in for him Tuesday at Lakeland High, where Troller teaches American government and is the wrestling coach.

"Honesty, hard working. He sees what needs to be done and absolutely finds a way to make it materialize," said Mary Jeanne Lykes, 51, who is a substitute teacher and Realtor.

Dockery voters were just as impressed with their candidate.

"I think he is a little older and a professional person and conservative," said Bettye Winoker, 61.

But it was Troller's supporters, who identified with him and his concern for the city, that tipped the scale.

"Because of the school system. He's very supportive of the school system," said Jennifer Vinson, 27. "I know the other candidate ... I think he's in it for personal gain, not what the people want. (Troller) seemed like he was more wholehearted than the other."

The runoff was a colorful contrast to the other two commission seats that were determined Nov. 6 when incumbents Gow Fields and Glenn Higgins were re-elected without opposition.

Negative Tones

The campaign reached a feverish spike last week when blistering fliers from both sides began arriving in mailboxes.

A Dockery ad suggested voters take an apples-and- oranges approach to the two candidates, with the implication that Troller was the bad apple.

Pro-Dockery literature hammered at how Troller didn't own a home in his name. Troller lives with his mother. He and his twin brother paid off her mortgages and Troller says he continues to pay the electric bill and property taxes.

Troller on Friday filed a complaint with the City Attorney's Office contending a Dockery e-mail ad violated the city charter rules because it identified Dockery as a Republican in the nonpartisan race and sought Republican votes. Troller is a Democrat.

Troller then sent out literature that claimed Dockery broke the law by turning a nonpartisan race into a partisan frenzy.

The negative tones late in the campaign seemed to have mixed reviews with voters.

"I don't know if that's a bad thing," said Winoker. "I think the more information you have for the people voting, the better.

"Even though it was more exciting, we had more information."

"I don't think it was needed ..." she said. "Really, when you look at what we learned, it wasn't anything bad."