In a contentious race for mayor of Lakeland, challenger Howard Wiggs has taken the title.



At just after 9:00 p.m., Howard Wiggs had 52 percent of voters and incumbent Gow Fields lagged slightly behind with 47 percent.



Wiggs spoke out after the final numbers came in and said that he is going to get to work as Mayor as soon as possible.

He also said that he does not support the Lakeland Police Chief and that there are going to be some changes. That's going to be one of his first orders of business.

The controversy surrounding the Lakeland Police Department divided Fields and Wiggs, who have worked together in city politics for many years.

Gow Fields has been a fixture in Lakeland politics for two decades. He was appointed to the city commission in 1993 to fill a vacant seat and then always won reelection.

He was elected four years ago as mayor when longtime Mayor Buddy Fletcher retired.

City commissioner races

For Lakeland's Commissioner at Large seat, Ricky Shirah and Jim Malless will move on to a run-off. No candidate received more than 50 percent of the vote. That run-off is slated for December 3.



In a race to fill Auburndale's City Commissioner Seat 2, William Smith (41 percent) beat Matthew Maloney (27 percent) and Beverly Scott (31 percent).



In the race between Winter Haven City Commissioner candidates, Steven Hunnicutt (53 percent) beat Debra Ogzewalla (47 percent) with a 53 percent vote.

