Avon Park City Council At-Large Seat · Nov 3, 2026
Louis Edward Bates
Sr.
Louis Edward Bates Sr. is running for Avon Park City Council At-Large Seat in the Nov 3, 2026 election, against Jim Barnard, Vern Bolton, Chris Downie, Gerald Snell and Maria T. Sutherland.
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The race · City Council At-Large Seat
- 01Jim BarnardIncumbent
- 02Louis Edward Bates Sr.You’re reading
- 03Vern Bolton
- 04Chris Downie
- 05Gerald Snell
- 06Maria T. Sutherland
Background
- About
- Retired executive Economic Development director for the City of Avon Park. He had also served as development director, overseeing Code Enforcement, Planning and Zoning, the Zoning Board of Adjustment and Main Street.
Two candidates are running for mayor (Garrett Anderson and Brenda Gray-Snell) and six for one council seat (Jim Barnard, Louis Edward Bates Sr., Vern Bolton, Chris Downie, Gerald Snell and Maria T. Sutherland). Highlands County Supervisor of Elections · Nov 3, 2026
On the record: Louis Edward Bates Sr.
4 sourced01Downtown1 sourced position
Said in a 2024 News-Sun Q&A that he would continue downtown improvements outlined in the initial City Master Plan, which he assisted with.
Own statementHighlands News-SunLink
02Parks1 sourced position
Said in a 2024 News-Sun Q&A that he favors the Donaldson Park master-plan investment because he was part of the initial planning.
Own statementHighlands News-SunLink
03Business development1 sourced position
Said in a 2024 News-Sun Q&A that he would initiate marketing to attract new business to the U.S. 27 corridor.
Own statementHighlands News-SunLink
04Policing1 sourced position
Listed studies on bringing back a local police department among his goals in a 2024 News-Sun Q&A.
Studies to address the need to bring back a local police department.”
Own statementHighlands News-SunLink
Every claim links to its source and was checked against it before publishing. How this guide works
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