In the City of Plant City City Commission Group Four race, incumbent Michael Sparkman will go up against political newcomer Jeremy Griner. The Plant City Observer emailed questions to Sparkman and Griner and received written responses from both candidates.
Only registered voters who live in the City of Plant City are eligible to vote in this election. Voters have three options for voting- Vote By Mail, Early Voting or Election Day voting.
Vote By Mail: All Vote By Mail ballot requests expired December 2022. Voters have until March 25 to request a mail ballot. As of March 2, 1,038 Plant City voters have requested ballots. Voters can call (813) 744-5900 or visit VoteHillsborough.gov to request a mail ballot and must provide their Florida driver license, Florida ID or the last four digits of their social security number when making the request.
Early Voting: Early voting will take place at City Hall, 302 West Reynolds Street, Friday, March 31 and Saturday, April 1 from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Voters can also drop their mail ballot off at a Secure Ballot Intake Station at this site during Early Voting.
Election Day: Election Day is Tuesday, April 4. All precincts will vote at City Hall and voting will be open from 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. On Election Day, Vote By Mail ballots cannot be accepted at the Election Day polling place but must be delivered to the Supervisor of Elections Office.
Meet Michael S. Sparkman
1. Please describe your personal, educational and professional background.
I am a fifth generation Plant City resident. Our family’s history and community service here in our community definitely precede me, as my great-great-grandfather was the first Tax Collector for Hillsborough County. His son, my great-grandfather, succeeded him as the next Tax Collector and then his son, my Uncle Bill Sparkman, followed after him in that same role. I learned early in life how important public service is, as well as the integrity that not only builds the trust of those you serve, but also helps you weather the times when everyone doesn’t agree with you. You study the issues, seek out input, and then do what you believe is best and right for the citizens. My record stands strong in doing what I believe is right and we have a lot of great things to show for it in every part of our City. My parents are Seymour and Nancy English Sparkman and I am a proud graduate from Plant City High School. I have gone to the school of hard knocks in life as I have worked to build several successful businesses. As a business owner, I understand how to build a strong balance sheet; ensure that employees are well-trained, successful and get paid; and to make sure that you serve your customers well. All of these things from my business experience translate into my public service as well, and I’m very proud to say that during my time in elected office as a Commissioner and Mayor, the City has a strong balance sheet, has a well trained and productive team across all of the different departments and Plant City is highly-rated as a one of the best places to live, work, learn, worship and play. We live in a very special and unique place, and I hope to continue to serve this beautiful community and its residents to ensure it stays that way. My family is the reason why I am so committed to serving this community. Diane Sue Cook Sparkman has been my partner in married life for 57 years and we are blessed with three children, Tommy, Chris and Aimee. Our 8 grandchildren bring us so much joy, but also keep driving me to ensure that the future is secure for their generation and beyond in our beloved town. I want others to have the same opportunities I have had for quality of life with their families.
Here are some of the highlights from my community and public service:
COMMUNITY SERVICE:
Florida Strawberry Festival, Director and Past President
Boys & Girls Club of Tampa Bay and Plant City, Board Member
Hillsborough Community College, District Board of Trustees and Chairman appointed by the Governor
BayCare Health System, Board of Directors
South Florida Baptist Hospital Foundation, Board of Trustees
Gold Shield Foundation, Charter Member
Plant City Rotary Club, Member
Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce, Board of Directors, Chairman of RelocationCommittee
Capital Campaign for Plant City Family YMCA, Chairman
PUBLIC SERVICE:
Plant City Commission – 30 years
Mayor of Plant City – 7 terms
Plant City Public Safety Employees Pension Fund, Board of Trustees, Chairman
Plant City Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA), Chairman
Hillsborough County Tourist Development Council (TDC), Board Member
COMMUNITY RECOGNITION:
Plant City’s Citizen of the Year, 1985
Presidential Award, Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce, 1993
Small Business Person of the Year, Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce, 1985
Plant City’s Family of the Year, Junior Women’s Club, 1983
Mr. Little League Award, Plant City Little League, 1984
Outstanding Citizen Award, Plant City’s Elks Lodge, 1990
Outstanding Community Service Award, City of Plant City, 1991
Plant City Family YMCA Strong Leader Award (1st to receive), 2003
“Hall of Fame”, Florida Petroleum Marketers Association (FPMA), 2005
Plant City Commission Dedication and Proclamation of “The Michael S. Sparkman Police Center”, 2007
2. Why are you the best candidate for this office?
My experience is what makes me the best candidate for this office today. My many years of public service allows me to be most effective in service. The issues we face now make it critical that we have continuity in leadership to ensure stability and effectiveness in making the important decisions that are coming at our community from all angles. However, that experience has come from several important values that guide me and that have allowed me to serve this community as a business owner, as a leader in many of our organizations, and in my role as a City Commissioner.
Hard work is important and I’ve never been afraid to roll up my sleeves and do what it takes to tackle any challenge. I am a man of integrity, loyalty and honoring my word. I follow through on things to make sure that things get done and am proud of my track record of what I’ve been able to accomplish for our City. I always think long term in my decision making as our kids and grandkids will have to deal with all of the decisions we make today.
I believe that due to my character and my effective leadership, I’ve been given repeated opportunities to serve and lead, and am prepared to continue in service at the highest level for my beloved City and our people here.
3. What’s the most important issue facing Plant City?
The most important issue facing Plant City is managing growth. We must prepare for the future, maintain our high levels of service, and most importantly, not lose our identity as a community in the midst of it all. These all go hand in hand, and as more and more people are attracted to our area, we must be diligent in how we protect our community. We live where everyone else in the country wants to be, and I take that responsibility very seriously in how we work hard to make sure all of our families are able to enjoy life in this great community for years to come.
4. What are your top 3 priorities?
I’ve always said that maintaining the health, safety and welfare of our citizens of Plant City is what drives my decision making as a City Commissioner, but also as a community leader in other organizations.
I’ve been involved with South Florida Baptist Hospital over the years and our family, like many others in our community, have relied on them for life-saving healthcare at the most critical times.
Our City’s first responders are the link in those precious minutes of response time that make sure people have the best possible outcomes during an emergency. Our police and fire departments are so important to each of our residents and I’ve always been a champion for them to have the best training, equipment, facilities and leadership. I can’t emphasize enough how grateful I am for each one of these heroes and the sacrifices their families make for our communities. Our community is a place where you can feel safe, protected and able to have the best quality of life because of them.
Our business community provides many opportunities for individuals to work and thrive, and I’ve had a long track record of involvement and support in the organizations that promote and support our employers. As a business owner, I understand how hard it can be, and how important it is to have organizations that help you with resources and networking. My service to the Chamber of Commerce over the years has helped many businesses. I support the great efforts of the Plant City Economic Development Corporation to grow our current businesses and to recruit new high quality employers that offer the best possible opportunities for our citizens.
As we just wrapped up another amazing Florida Strawberry Festival, I am so proud to serve on and to have been a past President of this Board. I work alongside so many of our citizens who take pride in showing the warm hospitality and bounty of our fields for the hundreds of thousands of visitors we welcome each year. Thank you to each of our many volunteers who make this festival the best of the best! That’s just the Plant City way – we do things right and to the best of our ability!
That’s always how I evaluate the projects that the City undertakes across all of our departments as I want to make sure we set the highest standards in service to our citizens.
Maintaining the qualities and values of who and what we are is a big part of ensuring our citizens’ welfare for the future. The sense of community we enjoy here is very special. We
must make sure that we are always promoting efforts that protect our close-knit, but welcoming community. I want my children and grandchildren to want to continue to call Plant City home and that is always top of mind for me as we make decisions on the City Commission.
5. What does transparency in government mean to you? Will you be personally accessible to answer questions while in office?
Transparency in government is very important to ensuring the system serves all citizens in the best possible way. We operate the City in the sunshine and all of our business is conducted in public forums at our commission meetings and workshops. Workshops are how we are able to actually
discuss issues that need to be addressed, by taking a deep dive to analyze a situation
or a problem, do planning, develop new policies and give direction to staff. This is always done with the public present.
Additionally, I believe you don’t just wait for citizens to come and find you or attend meetings at City Hall, but rather that it’s important to show up where they are out in the community. I make a point to attend events and make myself available in a more social environment where it may be easier for someone to express their concerns or share their opinion. I am blessed to have many relationships across all corners of our city, but am always looking for new ways to engage.
In my 30 years of public service, I have made myself available to members of the public and the press at all times of day and night. I have always welcomed input, questions and concerns and will continue to make myself available as I’ve always done.
My cell phone number is 813-927-3211 and I would love to hear from anyone at any time.
Meet Jeremy Griner
1. Describe your personal, education and professional background.
I grew up just next door to Plant City—in Polk County. I attended Auburndale High School, the University of Florida and Mississippi College School of Law. I practiced law in Tampa for five years before settling in Plant City with my wife, Megan Perry Griner, a local resident and Durant High School graduate. Megan worked as the College and Career Counselor at Durant for years, and she’s currently staying home to raise our girls.
We now reside in Walden Lake with our two young daughters. I am a solo practitioner attorney and represent the “little guy” versus giant corporations and insurance companies. I am a member of the Plant City Rotary Club and former Board Member of Plant City Main Street. I am also a former Hillsborough County Schools “Take Stock in Children” Mentor.
2. Why are you the best candidate for this office?
City Commissioners make tough decisions. My educational and professional background trained me to serve the citizens of Plant City in this role. In my law practice, I make decisions and advise my clients in their greatest hour of need. I am forced to consider both sides of every issue and advise my clients as to what position we should take for the best possible outcome. Every day, I weigh risks that impact my clients’ lives. I have a duty to put their interests before my own.
Similarly, as a City Commissioner, I will analyze both sides of every issue and ask myself, “How can we achieve the best outcome for Plant City’s residents?” Even if that decision is adverse to my own interests.
3. What’s the most important issue facing Plant City?
While there are a number of hot-button issues facing Plant City, in my opinion, growing Plant City’s economy is the most important. We need to keep our dollars in Plant City. We need to stop spending our hard-earned money in Lakeland and Tampa.
Plant City needs continued economic development. I will work to ensure that it happens by encouraging new businesses to plant their roots in our town, so we can live, work, and play in Plant City.
4. What are your top three priorities?
My top priority is intentional growth. We need to keep our community prosperous and financially healthy. However, it doesn’t need to come at the expense of our small-town charm. We need to seek opportunities to grow our economy while keeping our dollars local and in Plant City.
Second, I think Plant City has an incredible Parks and Recreation department. I want to continue supporting the work they are doing and prioritize investing more in this arena. Many people move to Plant City because they want a great place to raise their kids. Yet, when they are looking for great parks to take their children to play, they are driving to Lakeland and Tampa. The more we can invest in our children and parents, the stronger we will be. When you drive away for entertainment, you’re also carrying away the dollars you will spend on that cup of coffee before you go, the lunch you grab afterward, and where you shop to run your quick errand.
My third goal is to prioritize sustainable housing developments that preserve our small-town charm. Massive growth has come to the Tampa Bay area, and we are located in a strategic place on the I-4 corridor. However, I know when I talk to residents they agree with me that we don’t want to be the next Riverview or Brandon. We want to be very intentional with the types of projects that we permit. I’m also very aware that first time home buyers are having trouble finding homes they can afford. We have to seek solutions to these problems and help Plant City continue to feel like the small town we love.
5. What does transparency in government mean to you? Will you be personally accessible to answer questions while in office?
My definition of transparency in government is simple. First, inform the citizens of the issues before the community. No citizen should be in the dark. A commissioner needs to listen and be accessible. Second, make decisions that will positively impact and benefit Plant City . Finally, be accountable to the people.
Transparency and communication are paramount in my current business. In fact, attorneys can get in serious trouble for ignoring their clients.
I have more than 800 former clients who can tell you that I pride myself on timely communication and accessibility. I’ve had 9 p.m. conference calls with clients who work the night shift as well as 6 a.m. coffee meetings with clients who start the 7 a.m. shift. I’m not a “9-5” guy when it comes to communication. I work around your schedule.
Plant City: If you elect me to your City Commission, I will be ready, willing, and able to discuss the issues impacting you.
I Lead by Listening.
You can learn more at GrinerforPlantCity.com.