Schools, not scams
Stronger public schools
Keep public dollars focused on classrooms, educators, career pathways, and the students who rely on neighborhood schools.
Alethea Pugh · People-first priorities for District 48 · Stay connected
Dundee · East Polk County, Florida
Alethea Pugh
Leadership that puts people first.
Educator · U.S. Army Reserves Veteran · Former Dundee Town Commissioner · Community Advocate
A lifetime of service in East Polk County — in the classroom, in uniform, and in local government.
Dundee roots · East Polk communityStay connected
Out in the community
On the campaign trail
Meeting neighbors, local leaders and small businesses across East Polk.
In her own words
A journey of service, resilience, and accountability.
“My journey has not been perfect—and I do not pretend it has been. I have faced obstacles, learned hard lessons, and chosen to keep moving forward with greater humility, purpose, and accountability.”
“Military service taught me discipline and duty. Public service taught me that listening matters more than ego. Life taught me that people are more than their hardest chapter—and that lived experience can make us fiercer advocates for working families who deserve someone in their corner.”
Serving District 48 with honesty, courage, and the belief that our best days are still ahead.
— Alethea Pugh
That means you.
Dundee roots. District-wide vision.
Meet Alethea
Service is not a slogan. It’s how she leads.
Alethea Pugh is a proud Democrat from Dundee, dedicated to service, leadership, and community empowerment. She believes government should work for everyday people—seniors, working families, small businesses, and our youth.
Her career spans education, municipal government, healthcare payroll operations, insurance, utilities compliance, and juvenile justice. As a Computer Science Professor, U.S. Army Reserves Veteran, and former Dundee Town Commissioner, she brings practical experience and a service-over-ego commitment to District 48.
Computer Science Professor
Army Reserves Veteran
Former Commissioner
Community Advocate
“Leadership should be transparent, accountable, and deeply rooted in service—not ego.”
The 2026 campaign
Florida House District 48 | 2026 Election
Explore the campaign archiveExplore the priorities and community stories from Alethea’s 2026 campaign. This historical archive does not announce a future candidacy or assert an election result.
Her 2026 campaign priorities
The basics should work for everyone.
The documented priorities Alethea campaigned on in 2026 — preserved as a public record of what she stood for.
Families, not fundraisers
Lower everyday costs
Fight for real relief from insurance premiums, utility bills, and costs that keep working families from getting ahead.
US-27 and East Polk
Reliable roads & infrastructure
Prioritize safe roads, drainage, traffic solutions, and long-overdue maintenance in fast-growing communities.
Communities know their needs
Protect local home rule
Defend local voices and the public services—police, fire, parks, water, and roads—that neighbors depend on.
Local voices · Official resources
Dundee, Winter Haven & Lake Wales: the local questions behind District 48
Florida House District 48 is a legislative district in Polk County, not a city boundary. Check your address on the official Polk County district maps; a city name alone does not determine your district.
Dundee: hometown roots and thoughtful growth
Alethea Pugh’s Dundee roots and service as a former Town Commissioner inform her people-first approach. Dundee’s Comprehensive Plan brings transportation, housing, infrastructure, recreation and public school facilities into the same growth-management framework. For neighbors, these are connected questions: how growth affects the school run, local services and neighborhood character.
Source: Town of Dundee — Comprehensive PlanUS-27 and East Polk infrastructure prioritiesWinter Haven: quality of life and accountable government
Winter Haven’s FY25–FY29 Strategic Plan identifies six pillars: economic sustainability, quality of life, infrastructure, environmental stewardship, community safety and responsible government. Those priorities give residents a practical starting point for questions about local budgets and services. Alethea’s published home-rule position calls for residents and local leaders to have a voice in decisions affecting their community.
Source: City of Winter Haven — Strategic PlanHome rule and local voices in Polk CountyLake Wales: connected neighborhoods and local identity
Lake Wales Connected is a community-based long-range plan for the historic downtown and Northwest Neighborhood. The City describes streetscapes and trails, historic preservation and adaptive reuse, connections between green spaces and neighborhoods, and infill development. These are planning priorities, not a claim that every project is complete. They connect local conversations about growth with Alethea’s published priorities for reliable infrastructure and local control.
Source: City of Lake Wales — Lake Wales ConnectedHousing, insurance and everyday family costsOpen 24/7
District 48 community discussion
Ask what matters in your neighborhood. Browse community questions and lift the most urgent issues.
Join the movement
People-first leadership starts with neighbors.
Register your interest in future outreach in Dundee, Winter Haven and Lake Wales. Tell us how you would like to help; schedules will be shared when confirmed.
Your community, your voice
Tell Alethea what's on your mind
Share a concern about your street, school, bills or town. Alethea reads every message and responds personally within 24 hours.