Carolyn Freeland reelected to Punta Gorda City Council for a Second Term

Carolyn Freeland was quietly reelected to Punta Gorda City Council for a second term last week, when no other candidates qualified for the November election by the June 7^th deadline.

Ms. Freeland,  first elected to the Punta Gorda City Council in 2011 from District 3, has played an active role on the Council.  During her first term among her many accomplishments were  a leadership role in developing Punta Gorda’s strategic plan, initiator of the Citizen’s Academy, working with Punta Gorda’s Economic Development Task Force and supporting efforts to create an environment conducive to business.

Before joining the Council, Ms. Freeland held leadership roles in the Charlotte Community Foundation, the Chamber, Visual Arts Center, Arts and Humanities Council, as well as the Presidency of the PGI Civic Association.

Prior to settling  in Punta Gorda, she taught in higher education institutions for 10 years then joined Smith Bucklin and Associates, the world’s largest association management firm in Washington, focusing on education and health care.  A native Floridian, born in Fort Myers, Ms. Freeland relocated to Punta Gorda in 1997 with her husband, Tom.   She holds a Master’s degree in communication theory and a Ph.D in Educational Psychology from Purdue in Indiana. 

Nancy Prafke and Charlie Counsil, both qualified for the City Council position candidacy for District 5, and will run against each other in the November 5th election.