Gow Fields, Mayor (2010 - 2013)
gow.fields@lakelandgov.net
Gow was elected to the Lakeland City Commission in 1992 and became Mayor in January 2010. Gow is the owner of Fields & Company, Inc., doing business as Fields Insurance & Financial Group. He is Chair of the Utility and Airport Advisory Committees. He is a member of the American Public Power Association, Lakeland Area Mass Transit District Board, Lakeland Vision, the Transportation Planning Organization and the Polk Transit Authority Board. He is on the Board of Directors of the Lakeland Chamber of Commerce, Lakeland Economic Development Council, the Tampa Bay Partnership, Florida League of Mayors and a member of the MyRegion.org Board of Advisors. He is a member of the Downtown Lakeland Kiwanis, plus several other organizations. He has been inducted into the Polk County Public Schools Hall of Fame and the Kathleen High School Hall of Fame. He has received the Distinguished Alumni Award for Kathleen High School and for Polk Community College. Gow graduated from the University of South Florida and holds a Masters degree in Business Administration from Nova Southeastern University.

Justin Troller, Commissioner (2012 - 2015)
District: At Large
justin.troller@lakelandgov.net
Justin teaches American Government and is the Head Wrestling Coach at Lakeland Senior High School. He is the Chair of the Community Development Committee and a member of the City’s Utility Committee and Municipal Boards & Committees. He serves on the Airport Advisory Board, the Sun ’n Fun Board of Directors, and the Transportation Planning Organization.  He is the Vice President of the Lakeland Citizen Police Academy Alumni Association and serves in leadership roles on several civic and community organizations. Justin is a graduate of the University of South Florida and is currently pursuing his Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership.

Phillip Walker, Commissioner (2012- 2015)
District: Northwest
phillip.walker@lakelandgov.net
Phillip Walker graduated from Kathleen High School and has a Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice. He has been the owner and agency principal of a Lakeland Allstate insurance agency for over 20 years. Prior to entering the private sector, Mr. Walker was a Lakeland Police Officer. In 2000, Phillip received the Polk Mentoring Award from Governor Jeb Bush. He presently serves as Board Chair of Polk Works. He also serves on the Advisory Board for the Salvation Army, the Board of Directors for Good Shepherd Hospice and Christ Community Christian Center Church. As a City Commissioner, Mr. Walker serves on the following committees: Community Development, Finance, Legislative, and Utility.  He is the Chair of the Municipal Boards & Committees.  He is also a member of the Enterprise Zone Development Agency, Florida League of Cities Legislative committee, Mid-Town CRA, and the Transportation Planning Organization.  Mr. Walker is married to Cappie D. Cooke and they have three children, Janelle, Jaela, and Christian Phillip, and one granddaughter, Zoë. There are also two other young men who are a part of his immediate family, Tony and John Eric.

Keith Merritt, Commissioner (2012 - 2015)
District: Northeast
keith.merritt@lakelandgov.net
Keith has been a practicing lawyer for 10 years and is the owner of Merritt Law, P.A.  He earned his law degree with Honors and a Masters in Business Administration in 1998 from the University of Florida. Before that, Mr. Merritt was a Nuclear Electrician in the U.S. Navy for six years and attended Florida State University where he graduated in 1991 earning a dual degree in Biology and History with a minor in Chemistry.  Keith currently serves on the Community Development, and Real Estate & Transportation Committees.  He is also on the Board of the Lakeland Area Mass Transit District and the Transportation Planning Organization.

Edie Yates, Commissioner (2010 - 2013)
District: Southeast
edith.yates@lakelandgov.net
Edie is the founding partner of Baylis & Company PA CPAs, where she is currently the Senior Partner. After becoming a Certified Public Accountant in 1975 and working for an international accounting firm, she returned to Lakeland to become the internal auditor for Lakeland Regional Medical Center. Edie has served as President of the local professional chapter of CPAs, as Chairman of two statewide, not-for-profit conferences, and volunteered countless hours of community service. She currently serves as the Chair for the Finance Committee, and is also on the Legislative, Real Estate & Transportation, and Utility Committees.  She is a member of the Central Florida Regional Planning Council and the Tourist Development Council.  She has served in leadership roles on the national, state and local levels of various organizations, such as Chair of the United Way of Central Florida. Edie holds a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Florida Southern College.  

Don Selvage, Commissioner (2010 - 2013)
District: Southwest
donald.selvage@lakelandgov.net
Elected to the city commission in 2009, Don chairs the Real Estate & Transportation Committee and is a member of the Utility Committee.  He also serves on the boards of Lakeland Area Mass Transit District Board, Lakeland Downtown Development Authority, Polk Transit Authority, and the Transportation Planning Organization. Don served in the U.S. Marine Corps for 30 years, retiring as a colonel before coming to Lakeland in 1999. He is the owner of SHR Human Resources, LLC. Active in many civic and professional organizations, Don holds a degree in Political Science from Ohio State University and advanced degrees in Administration and National Security Affairs from Central Michigan University and Salve Regina College respectively.

R. Howard Wiggs, Commissioner (2010 - 2013)
District: At Large
howard.wiggs@lakelandgov.net
Howard is the co-owner of Bagley Advertising. He is the Chair of the Legislative Committee. He is a member of the Finance and Utility Committees, as well as several civic and community organizations. He also serves on the Municipal Boards & Committees, Lakeland Vision, Transportation Planning Organization and the Florida League of Cities Board of Directors, He has a Marketing degree from Florida Southern College and is a graduate of Florida School of Banking and is a Rotarian.