Polk County Commission honors Martha Santiago in Farewell

Polk County commissioners opened the Nov. 3 Tuesday meeting to honor Chair Martha Santiago, who will retire after eight years representing District 4 in NE Polk County.

The meeting began with a “Recognition of Commissioner Martha Santiago for her service to the Commission” and continued with a video tribute.

The video followed her journey from a 1978 teaching job to the county dais and described her as a voice for the community and an advocate for progress. Santiago received a standing ovation from both the audience and her colleagues.

“I blinked, and eight years of serving on the Polk County Commission flew by,” she said. “It has been a wonderful experience, and I’m honored to have served the county I love.”

She was first elected in November 2018 and re-elected in November 2022. She has served twice as vice chair and is in her second turn as chair. Prior to serving the commission, she spent nearly four decades in education. She taught in Polk County Public Schools, worked as a school and district administrator, and later served Polk State College as a board trustee, dean of academic affairs, and provost.

Santiago pointed to the growth Polk County has absorbed during her two terms. She spoke about her district, the northeast corner of the county, where she said the pace outran what anyone had predicted. She also brought up the challenges of the COVID-19 years.

“We worked to protect our residents, support our businesses, and keep our county moving forward,” she said. She described it as a test of leadership and collaboration.

Santiago thanked her colleagues and those she has worked alongside, including county staff and the constitutional officers.

“Serving in this capacity is not for the faint of heart,” she said. “We may not always agree on decisions, but we share responsibility to the people who place their trust in us.”

After commenting that County Manager Bill Beasley’s own retirement is coming soon, she thanked County Attorney Randy Mink for guiding the board through complicated legal questions, and jokingly told him she should “start by thanking you for keeping us out of jail.” She congratulated Ryan Taylor, who will serve as the next county manager beginning in mid-January when Beasley retires.

She also recognized her administrative assistants, Anna, Fan, and Kay, calling them her right hand and her sounding board.

“Public service has never been just a position to me. I see it as a calling,” she said. “My career in education taught me that the true measure of leadership is not the title we hold, but the difference we make in the lives of others.”

She directed her final remarks to residents. She thanked them for their questions, emails, phone calls, and visits.

“This position has never been about me,” she said. “It has always been about you, the people I represent.”

She ended with a line about what a term leaves behind. “Public service isn’t about how long we serve, but about what we leave behind,” she said. “I close this chapter of my life with a grateful heart, a deep sense of pride, and a tremendous faith in Polk County’s future.”

Colleagues say goodbye

Each of the four remaining commissioners spoke after Santiago finished.

Commissioner Becky Troutman (District 1) said she had valued a perspective that often differed from her own.

“It has been an honor and a privilege to work with you,” Troutman said. “You’ve been here for eight of the fastest-growing years this county’s ever had.” She said the years had been challenging, rewarding and frustrating in turn, and that Santiago had been up to the task. She added that Santiago had taught her what a provost is. She then asked, to laughter, whether Santiago had gotten free tickets for the tribute video.

Commissioner Rick Wilson (District 2) said he remembers exactly where he was when he called Santiago about running again. She had run twice before and lost both times.

“I said, but Martha, the third time’s the charm,” Wilson said. He noted that she served years as the only woman on the board. He praised the way she handled emotional moments from the chair over the past year. “Thank you, not just for the eight years here, but for everything you’ve done for this community, for decades,” he said.

Commissioner Michael Scott (District 5) said he first met Santiago as a resident, at a meeting he had missed and rescheduled. He said the conversation changed the course of his own life.

“That seed was for me to get the guts up enough to go ahead and run for County Commission as well,” Scott said. “And for us, in the greater North Lakeland area, I think we’ll always be appreciative of your service here. And for me, individually, I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for that one meeting.” Santiago told him she does not remember the meeting. Scott told her that was all right, because he does.

Vice Chair Bill Braswell (District 3) kept his remarks short.

“I just want to say to you, as my friend, I’m gonna miss you,” Braswell said. “We worked together very closely, and for this county, it’s not going to be the same. I know we’ve got great people here, but it’s not going to be the same without you.”

Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller Stacy Butterfield also spoke. She credited Santiago with steering the county through a stretch of heavy growth and the service demands that came with it.

“It’s been an absolute honor working with you as you serve our community and serve it with professionalism, dignity, and poise,” Butterfield said.

A New Commissioner Seat to Be Filled

Santiago’s term ends Tuesday, Nov. 17. The District 4 seat is on the Nov. 3 general election ballot. Omar Arroyo, a Republican and the former mayor of Haines City, faces write-in candidate Elisha Gresham, a notary public and community advocate from Davenport. Santiago announced in May 2026 that she would not seek a third term. She said then that she is looking forward to traveling with her husband, Alex, and spending more time with her children and grandchildren.

Her successor will be sworn in at a ceremony at the County Administration Building, typically held on the second Tuesday after the general election. The commission will also elect a new chair and vice chair at a reorganization meeting. Braswell is currently the vice chair.

Disclaimer: The Citrus Tea News is not here to tell you how to vote. We bring you the information so you can make your own informed decisions.

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SOURCES: Polk County Board of County Commissioners, Meeting Agenda Final, Nov. 3, 2026, items A.2 and R.48, Polk County Legistar; Polk County Board of County Commissioners meeting video, PGTV, Nov. 3, 2026; Polk County Government news release, “Ryan Taylor Chosen as Next County Manager for Polk County,” Oct. 6, 2026; Polk County Government news release, “Commissioner Santiago Will Not Seek Re-election to Third Term,” May 11, 2026; Polk County Government, Board of County Commissioners District 4 biography page; Polk County Government news release, “Three Polk County Commissioners Sworn In,” Nov. 19, 2024; Polk County Home Rule Charter, as amended, Section 2.6; Florida Statutes 100.041, Officers chosen at general election; Polk County Legistar, Board of County Commissioners office members roster, term dates; The Citrus Tea News, “What’s on Your August Ballot? A Polk County Voter’s Guide to the 2026 Primary,” June 24, 2026; LkldNow, Polk County Commission District 4 voter guide, Oct. 1, 2026.