A political action committee calling itself "No Boss Mayor" has registered to oppose a ballot initiative that would change the city's form of government.

LAKELAND — A political action committee calling itself "No Boss Mayor" has registered to oppose a ballot initiative that would change the city's form of government.

"The goal is to maintain the present commission-city manager form of government that has served Lakeland well," said Larry Durrence, chair of No Boss Mayor. "We think that the effort to change our form of government is reflecting the position of a small minority of people who would probably like to have more control over what the government does."

Durrence is a former mayor and current candidate for the Southwest District City Commission seat. Cindy Petterson, a member of the city's Charter Review Committee, is No Boss Mayor's treasurer.

Members of the group include former City Manager Gene Strickland and former Mayor Frank O'Reilly. The group has been meeting informally since the issue first arose with serious backing by local real estate developer Gregory Fancelli in 2015.

The group's adversary is Committee for a Strong Lakeland, a petitioners committee that has submitted enough voters' signatures to get the issue to the ballot.

Under the proposed charter amendment, the mayor would assume power over the city bureaucracy and be responsible for day-to-day operations of the city, personnel issues and other functions now handled by a city manager, an appointed expert on municipal administration.

The commission would become a legislative body responsible for passing ordinances and budgets. The commission also would hire a general manager for Lakeland Electric. The city-owned utility would not be under the elected mayor.

Proponents say the strong mayor system would allow voters a clearer voice in the city's direction by hanging more power on a single elected official directly responsible to the ballot.

Opponents like No Boss Mayor say the commission-manager form can produce the same kind of dynamic leadership as a strong mayor system while reducing the risk of malfeasance, incompetence or corruption.

"Our goal is to educate the people about the current system and the advantages of the current system and to understand the significance of the change," Durrence said.

Durrence said the debate isn't unprecedented in Polk County, comparing it to a successful 2002 ballot initiative that ended the direct election of the Polk County School District's superintendent.

"We really weren't satisfied we were making any progress and weren't going in the right direction in the school system," Durrence said, and voters agreed to allow the School Board to select a "trained professional" to manage the district.

Strickland, the former city manager, said he does not believe the proposed charter amendment provides sufficient checks and balances against the power of the strong mayor.

Under the system, the commission has the power of the purse, but the mayor also has a line-item veto.

Realistically, it would be difficult for the commission not to be railroaded by the powerful executive, Strickland said.

"I cannot find anywhere in this proposed document ... that the mayor can ever be made or mandated to do anything. Somebody needs to show me where that City Commission has the power to tell the mayor to do anything — fix a pothole, cut down a tree — do anything. I can't find it."

The City Commission will be briefed by City Attorney Tim McCausland on its role and responsibilities regarding election and ballot setting Monday. Strong Lakeland had asked a circuit judge to delay the meeting, saying the discussion represented an overreach of the commission's authority. The judge denied the request Wednesday.

McCausland will likely tell the commission it has a responsibility to make sure the ballot language faithfully represents the key components of the charter amendment.

The language on the petition form signed by Lakeland voters doesn't capture important elements of the plan, Strickland said, particularly with how it puts Lakeland Electric — the city's largest department and budget — under the authority of the City Commission.

Durrence said No Boss Mayor's campaign strategy — and whether it would seek legal action to achieve its aims — have not yet been determined.

First, he would like to see what happens Monday.

Strickland requested an audience with the commission at its public meeting Monday.

Strickland said he will not be speaking for No Boss Mayor, nor will he advocate for his preferred position, but will press the commission to pass a resolution stating the board's official position.

The commission often weighs in on issues like a county sales tax to provide indigent health care and taxes for roads and public transportation, he said.

"You have been faced with other referendums in past years and adopted a position to endorse or not endorse," he wrote. "None of those referendums come close to the importance of the one before you today. For the citizens of Lakeland that look to you for guidance please adopt a position for or against the proposed strong mayor form of government."

— Christopher Guinn can be reached at Christopher.Guinn@theledger.com or 863-802-7592. Follow him on Twitter @CGuinnNews.