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Image courtesy of the City of Auburndale
“I never thought I’d be in politics, and part of that has to do with the bipartisan ugliness of today. But growing up, my dad was Assistant city manager for Auburndale when I was in grade school up through college. I grew up playing in the City Hall because he was working there.”
For Mayor Dorothea Taylor Bogert of Auburndale, FL, local government service runs in the family. However, her path to leading her community was, perhaps, atypical.
Bogert received her Ph.D. in higher education from Florida State University and was previously an adjunct professor at Polk Community College. She’s worked in real estate since 1998 and is the broker-owner of the Auburndale-based real estate company FL Realty. Interestingly enough, it was her interest in real estate that initially drew her into local government.
“I’m in real estate, so I needed to know what’s going on in Auburndale, just from the land development side of things to stay as prepared professionally as I can. Around 2013, [my husband and I] started going to commission meetings, and we enjoyed it.”
After going to commission meetings for close to four years, she was encouraged to run for city commission. Initially hesitant, Bogert decided to run for office due to her growing interest in local government work. She successfully ran for city commission in 2017 and has served as mayor since December 2021. Since then, her biggest challenge has been helping her city manage astronomical population growth while maintaining a smaller town character.
Florida is one of the fastest-growing states in the U.S. One of the biggest beneficiaries of that growth is Auburndale, which has seen a 19 percent surge in residents over the last two years. While this is exciting for the small community, it also provides its share of challenges. With her background in real estate and strong interest in land development, Mayor Bogert is uniquely positioned to help her city accommodate this growth.
“We want to have a growth management mindset to provide cutting-edge opportunities for citizens while maintaining that small-town feel. And it will always be my goal to keep that small-town feel because that’s what I love about Auburndale,” said Bogert.
Several years ago, Auburndale collaborated with property owners to develop the Lakes District Master Plan, which covers one of the city’s fast-growing areas, North Auburndale. The goal of the master plan is to guide development in the region, while maintaining Auburndale’s historic character. While the Lakes District Plan was initiated before her time as mayor, it was solidified during her tenure. The community’s vision for future neighborhoods in the Lakes District is to have a “village” feel, which will give a nod to Auburndale’s small-town past, while giving residents a neighborhood that is more walkable and connected than a typical suburban development.
“We just approved our first subdivision for [the Lakes District Plan]. We [prioritized] walkability, bikeability, trail access, and connectivity. I wanted some village centers with boutiques, little restaurants and a mini downtown, with townhomes and apartments above [retail]”, she said.
It is critical to Bogert that all neighborhoods in the Lakes District area are connected through a bike path, which will encourage residents to take alternative means of transportation and facilitate a healthier, more connected lifestyle. The bike paths will also connect residents to parks and preserve land, which is another important aspect of the plan.
The location of the Lakes District is significant because it will be adjacent to Florida Polytechnic University in Lakeland and the Florida Turnpike Enterprise’s new SunTrax facility in Auburndale. Leaders in both communities hope that having an emerging technology-focused university and an autonomous vehicle test track in the area will drive the development of what they are calling the “Central Florida Innovation District” Bogert and other leaders anticipate that having these assets clustered in one area will drive more tech professionals to the area and, with that, more businesses and tax revenue.
“Seeing that [the Lakes District Plan] was solidified while I’m in office, it makes me pleased to leave a legacy,” Bogert said.
Image courtesy of the City of Auburndale
Legacy for Bogert also includes participating as a leader in various organizations including the Florida League of Cities, Florida League of Mayors, and the Auburndale Chamber of Commerce. She is an executive advisor for her sorority’s chapter as well. For Bogert, public service is about more than a title.
“I think that is just my personality, that if I’m going to be in, I’m all in,” she said. “I love to be educated, I love information, and I love knowledge. And when you become more involved [in the community], it makes you better prepared to lead your city and make good decisions,” she said.
She likes to be involved in these organizations because it allows her to hear first-hand about other people’s successes and failures. “The way to learn is from other people’s experience, and either to do something right or not do something that they did wrong. When you get [very involved], you get to learn from people more. That keeps me rejuvenated, and it keeps me motivated for my citizens,” Bogert said.
Auburndale’s population grew more in two years than most cities grew over decades. With this growth comes major challenges and potential successes and failures. However, Bogert shows that by embracing change and growth, her city can successfully provide new and longtime residents with livable neighborhoods, more jobs, increased dining and shopping options, first-class recreational opportunities, and a high quality of life.
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