Terry Mendel is not a woman who shies away from conflict. “Even in a little Mayberry town like Sebring, there’s power struggles,” said Mendel. “It’s a fight, but God’s prepared me.”

Given the sureness with which she read off a brief but heartfelt prayer to open her interview with Poliverse, Mendel’s conviction is clear. She hopes that conviction will return her to the City Council in Sebring, a Central Florida town of 12,000, in Highlands County. Six candidates are standing for three at-large spots on the Council – Mendel, who previously served on the Council between 2022 and 2025, and two challengers against three incumbents. The top three vote-getters will be elected.

Though she’s in a tight race – and noting that City Council can be a thankless task, which is why she stood aside last year – Mendel was nevertheless optimistic. “The last day before qualifying, I had so many people telling me they’ll help me, and I showed the texts to my husband and he said, ‘You’ve got to do this!’”

Mendel describes herself as being “old-time Sebring.”

“I have a genuine longtime affection and love and loyalty to Sebring,” she emphasized, noting her service on the board of the Sebring Florida Historical Society.

When she left Council last year, Mayor John Shoop lauded Mendel for having “given unselfishly of her time, energy and expertise in the best interest of the City and its citizens. Expecting little in return other than the knowledge that her contributions have helped to make our beautiful City a better place to live.

“The honorable Terry Mendel through her exemplary public service, has brought great credit upon herself, her family and her community.”

Commissioner Kevin Roberts (R-Avon Park), who said he rarely gives endorsements, spoke glowingly of Mendel. “I just think she’s a lady of sterling character. I think she’s a lady who studies the issues. She’s very passionate. She loves her community, she loves Sebring, and she’s not afraid of the difficult subjects other people tiptoe around.

“She’s a devout Christian. She doesn’t just talk it, she walks it.”

Mendel’s first term was not without controversy, which she acknowledged. Her combative style at times rankled fellow Councilmembers and members of the public alike. She received criticism for her actions in opposition to an adults-only burlesque show that took place at a Sebring restaurant; Mendel took video at the event, which she said showed show participants exposing themselves, according to a report in the Highlands News-Sun. Police on site reported no violations of City decency ordinances.

Following the burlesque show, Mendel received intense criticism from speakers at Council meetings; the restaurant’s owner, the Cadzows, said at the time that it called into question their desire to invest in Sebring.

Mendel was also rebuked by the elected City Clerk earlier this month for accusing the current City Council of not being business-friendly. Mendel was speaking as a member of the public about the fate of a municipal golf course attached to Harder Hall, a historic hotel property by William Manly King, designer of Palm Beach’s famed Breakers. Harder Hall was purchased by the Blackmon Family in 2022 and has since been undergoing extensive repair and restoration.

On Harder Hall, whose redevelopment she describes as one of the critical issues in the campaign, she said, “Our current City Council is not being wise in their understanding of the restoration of Harder Hall – and the understanding of what adding the golf course to it means … the golf course loses hundreds of thousands a year.”

Mendel was reflective about her combative style, and that she hoped to work to bring people together, but expressed no regrets. “My bottom line is when I see something that I feel like I would speak up against, I’m going to do it,” she said.

However, she continued, “This is America, and everybody has rights to their opinions,” she said. “I made it clear from the dais – I’d be a city councilwoman for gay people, Black people, Brown people, Buddhists, whatever. I love them all.”