News

Five more graduates of the Central Florida Political Leadership Institute (PLI), a program  of BusinessForce, the political action arm of the Central Florida Partnership, have emerged victorious in the primary elections held on Aug. 24th throughout the region.

In Orange County, businesswoman and former Chamber of Commerce executive Jennifer Thompson, led the field and almost won her race outright for the “open” District 4 Orange County Commission seat.  She still must face a general election opponent.

Polk County citrus man Ben Albritton was the runaway winner in his primary race and appears headed now for the state legislature with only a write-in opponent facing him in the general election.  Also in Polk County, Melony Bell, a Florida Dept. of Transportation official and former Ft. Meade Mayor, won the Republican Primary and her bid to become the next District 2 Polk County Commissioner. 

In Lake County, Sean Parks upended the incumbent and was elected outright to the District 2 County Commission seat while in Daytona Beach, Edith Shelley, has won her primary for the Zone 1 seat on the Daytona Beach City Commission.

BusinessForce President Mike Ketchum hailed these election success stories as “living proof once again of how the PLI is reshaping the region’s political landscape through identifying, educating and mentoring outstanding business leaders to become outstanding public officials.”  Prior to this election cycle three PLI graduates were successful in their election quests and included Orange County School Board member Nancy Robbinson, Osceola County Commissioner Brandon Arrington and Winter Park Mayor Ken Bradley.

Watch soon for an announcement by the Central Florida Partnership of its plans for the 2011 Central Florida Political Leadership Institute.