It may be a tough being a “small town” mayor, particularly given the state of the economy. But newly elected Winter Springs Mayor, Charles Lacey may well be gearing up to preside over “game-changing” conditions in his city…thanks to a number of people and situations Lacey credibly acknowledges. Feature length – 27:05

In Part-1 of this 2-part feature, we speak 1-on-1 with Lacey, who at the time of this interview had just recently been sworn into office.

With a population today of approximately 34,000 residents, the city of Winter Springs, Florida was incorporated in 1959. Geographically, the city is located in the east Seminole County region of Central Florida, immediately west of the city of Oviedo with whom it shares a growing affection…collectively branding and marketing themselves as the Twin Cities.

In his day job, Lacey is owner and president of QTS Management Corporation, a financial services company, and an organizer and director of Semoran Financial Corporation, owners of Semoran National Bank. He’s lived in the city for 12 years and has the requisite community involvement pedigree one might expect of a business person and an actively involved civic leader. His bio is on our web site.

As mayor, Lacey presides for a 4-year term over a form of municipal government called “manager/commission.” The mayor votes only in the event of a tie….earns $1,200 a month with no benefits…chairs commission meetings of 5-elected commissioners….and confronts the prospects of a very blue sky….at least as he paints it.

At Lacey’s city hall office, producer Stephen McKenney Steck spoke with him for more than an hour. In part-1, Lacey’s responses center around his leadership style, discussing specific economic development issues orbiting the city, and his perceptions of the strengths, weakness, opportunities and threats he sees facing Winter Springs over the next 4 years of his term in office…one that he practically walked in to.

In part 2 of the interview, Lacey will address aspects of the 2nd year of the city fire department being consolidated with Seminole County’s fire department, the branding that is occurring between Winter Springs and Oviedo – the so called Twin Cities, the recent changes to the city’s charter voted on by the residents and what it’s like to lead as mayor without a vote.

Below are a series of still pictures of Mayor Lacey, plus links to information on issues Lacey addresses in his interview. Lacey’s extended interview will be posted with part-2 of this feature.

Extended Interview & Pictures

Additional Feature Information

Links to other podcasts produced by CMF Public Media featuring Charles Lacey

• Commentary: Proposed Charter Changes (3/25/2010)

Useful links to issues addressed by Charles Lacey

• UCF Business Incubator – Winter Springs
• Winter Springs Town Center
• Jetta Point Park
• Oviedo MarketPlace (Mall)
• SeminoleWAY And The Greeneway Interchange District (Gid)

Links from area newspapers regarding Charles Lacey

• New WS leaders ready for work (from Seminole Chronicle)
• Changing of the guard (from Seminole Voice)
• W.S. poised to get the job done (from Seminole Chronicle)
• Mayor Lacey vows to hit the ground running (from Seminole Chronicle)
• Oviedo, W.S. join business enterprise (from Seminole Chronicle)
• 2010 race for mayor starts up in W.S (from Seminole Chronicle)
• Former chamber president announces plan to run (from Seminole Chronicle)