Posted on 08/03/2016 8:12:12 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Donald Trump may have had a rough week campaigning nationally, but that didn't sway voters at a straw poll sponsored by the Lakeland Area Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday.
Trump defeated Democrat Hillary Clinton 161 votes to 98 at the Chamber's Political Hob Nob event at Sun 'n Fun.
It was one of 17 straw polls 292 people voted in during the event, which featured brief speeches by local candidates running in the Aug. 30th primary and the Nov. 8 election.
School Board District 2 candidate Ronnie Clark won the closest race, defeating incumbent Lori Cunningham, 101 to 99 in the non-partisan race.
Clark, a pastor at Hurst Chapel AME Church in Winter Haven, received the biggest reception after he spoke.
Clark supporter Kristen Hathcock, a teacher at Dennison Middle School, said Clark, of Haines City, would help provide her school with resources and much-needed funding the school needs.
She said he would help reduce the number of required tests mandated by the Polk County School District.
But Cory Wilson, a Lori Cunningham supporter and theater teacher at Ridge Community, said the incumbent often helps students and teachers at the school. Wilson spoke to the crowd about Cunningham.
"She even comes backstage to help us," Wilson said after his speech. "All the students know her."
Other races weren't as close as the School Board District 2 contest.
Republican Kelli Stargel defeated Democrat Debra Wright, 184 to 98 in the State Senate District 22 race.
Stargel described herself as an accomplished, responsive lawmaker after her brief speech.
But Wright, a former School Board member, said she would listen more to the needs of the voters than Stargel.
It seems that you are concern trolling big time. I suggest a few days at the beach. The negativity has obviously consumed you.
What are you talking about? It wasn’t an anti-trump post. I am posting what Hannity also says....I voted for the guy, went to his rally and even donated to him you dumb@$$. I WANT him to win, but if he needs to stick to a script for awhile..don’t you think??
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