The outcome of the next municipal primary election on August 19 will determine the campaign of the three candidates running for the position of District 4 representative on the Groveland City Council.
Groveland locals Jim O. Neil and Michael Jaycox, who have different perspectives on local concerns like housing affordability, traffic, growth, and more, will compete against incumbent councilwoman Judith Fike.
Fike, who was elected to the council in October 2024, has been embroiled in controversy in recent weeks over her previous social media statements.
During their stay in Groveland, O Neil and Jaycox have held leadership positions in the Trilogy of Orlando Veterans and other neighborhood associations. They hope to influence the council by drawing on their respective local knowledge and Navy and Air Force experiences.
As the primary election draws closer, here is a look at each candidate.
Judith Fike
Fike, who was suspended from Groveland City Council for allegedly racist and anti-gay social media statements, has had a turbulent few months building up to the primary election. On June 30, he made a comeback with reports from the Clermont Sun.
A week later, Circuit Judge Dan Mosely sided with Fike and ordered a temporary injunction against the city, restoring Fike to the city council.
In a written statement to the Orlando Sentinel, Fike stated that she is committed on ensuring that every tax dollar is utilized prudently while spearheading a drive to stop overdevelopment that has robbed other cities of their unique character.
In addition to revamping downtown to create a walkable center of shops and restaurants, responsible growth management will decide our quality of life for decades to come, she added. This will ensure that the recent pioneers who have invested in small businesses may continue to expand and thrive.
Fike stated that she wants to see the neighborhood grow with a purpose, as the recent surge in local growth has had a significant impact on both traffic and home affordability.
“Decades of residential growth without enough jobs, roads, or connections throughout the region is the cause of traffic,” she stated. In order to guarantee that our citizens may find good jobs in Groveland and escape the traffic that plagues the rest of Central Florida, we must enhance economic development in the area.
According to Fike, she will contribute leadership, expertise, and a connection to the community as a current council member to ensure Groveland continues to progress responsibly.
She claimed to have the connections, experience, and dedication necessary to lead successfully right away. When I arrive, it’s not for a picture; rather, it’s to establish genuine relationships and accomplish tangible tasks for Groveland.
Jim O Neil
After retiring from the U.S. Navy in 1994, Jim O. Neil relocated to Trilogy Orlando, Groveland’s vibrant adult community, in 2018. He is now the district’s FEMA manager and provides risk management services to the Lake County School District.
At a recent Groveland candidate discussion, he stated, “I manage all FEMA claims and any mitigation that has to do with repair and trying to get reimbursement from FEMA.” It is to attempt to financially restore the school and obtain reimbursement for any storm-related damages.
According to O Neil, who brings an analytical and evaluation-focused perspective to city council, his top priority is ensuring that the City of Groveland’s health is appropriately evaluated before to making significant choices.
Based on the growth we’ve seen over the past three to five years, I believe our entire strategic plan has to be reviewed and reanalyzed, he added. We aren’t keeping up, in my opinion, and many of the development contracts are more than five years old. Permitting and other procedures are now being started. Many of those, in my opinion, need to be reviewed in order to ascertain their present significance in our region.
O Neil stated that he would be an excellent choice to represent District 4 because of his experience in operational control, finance, and code enforcement.
“I have experience working in both government and commercial enterprises,” he stated. I believe that the city of Groveland will gain from my wide range of useful experience.
Michael Jaycox
Michael Jaycox, a native of New York and a member of the Air Force, has resided in Trilogy since 2022.
After retiring from the Air Force, Jaycox, a former civil engineer, spent more than 40 years working in quality assurance. He used his experience to understand how meetings should proceed, how to create papers that demand consensus, and other duties that are expected of city officials.
He said that I was the only candidate with real experience drafting laws and codes.
Jaycox, who is running a campaign centered on his own P.O.P. emphasis on people platform, stated that ensuring that citizens are aware of the municipal charter is his top concern.
According to him, it’s time for everyone to read the city charter, abide by it, make any necessary corrections, and enhance it otherwise.
Although there are many reasons to amend the city charter, Jaycox stated that reducing rapid growth should be the main goal for municipal authorities, with a focus on the one house, one acre command.
In addition to traffic, affordable housing, and a variety of other local concerns, Jaycox stated that he is dedicated to serving Groveland by making sure that every choice is made with his prospective District 4 residents in mind.
“I’ll see how it works for the entire city if it’s neutral for District 4, but District 4 is the one I represent,” he said. I have to consider the people who elected me, even though some may sit there and say you need to be a little more global and consider the entire city.
You can reach me at 407-754-4980 or [email protected].
