By Carl Fish

Questions from the recent Lake Wales city election are raising a bigger issue about how the city verifies whether candidates meet residency requirements.

The city charter requires candidates running for district seats to live in that district for at least one year. The question being raised now is simple: how is that actually verified?

Former Lake Wales City Commissioner Danny Krueger brought those concerns to the city commission during public comments on April 21. He also raised the issue in emails with city officials, questioning whether the process relies almost entirely on a candidate stating they qualify, without any real review.

Krueger pointed to records he said raise questions about when residency was established and whether the one-year requirement was clearly met. He also questioned whether there is any real process in place to resolve those concerns once they are brought forward.

Those concerns centered in part on recently elected Commissioner Terri Miller, who has said she met the requirement.

In an email shared with city officials, Miller said she reviewed the charter before qualifying and believed the one-year requirement applied prior to the election, not the qualifying period. She stated she began moving into her sister’s home on Druid Circle in March 2025 and completed that move by early April 2025, placing her within the one-year requirement before the April 7, 2026 election.

Krueger, however, has argued the records he reviewed show the city should have a clearer way to verify residency rather than leaving it open to interpretation.

A response from City Attorney Chuck Galloway highlights part of the issue. In an email, Galloway stated the city does not have jurisdiction over candidate qualifying issues and that “the candidate swears or affirms that they are qualified.”

That response raises a straightforward question: if the city does not verify residency, and instead relies on a candidate’s statement, is there a gap in the process? While the state of Florida could potentially look into the matter, the way the rules are currently written may leave little for the state to enforce. It also raises the question of whether the City of Lake Wales would want to relinquish control of its own elections. Some argue the solution could be straightforward, requiring candidates to provide clear, verifiable proof of residency such as an updated driver’s license, voter registration, or similar documentation.

As Lake Wales continues to grow, that question may carry more weight. Residency requirements are meant to ensure candidates have an established connection to the district they want to represent. Without a clear verification process, some are questioning how that standard is consistently applied.

The issue now comes down to a few basic questions. Should candidates be required to show proof of residency when they qualify? Should there be clearer rules on what counts as residency? And should there be a way to resolve concerns before an election takes place?

The issue may be less about one candidate and more about whether the city’s election process needs stronger safeguards to ensure public confidence.

The Daily Ridge & Lake Wales Daily will continue to monitor this story line.