Tuesday night featured five candidates challenging the incumbent to become the next mayor of Cape Coral in Southwest Florida’s Lee County.
The voting was done citywide for the four-year term. All eligible voters, regardless of party affiliation, could cast their ballots in the non-partisan elections that wrapped up the first phase Tuesday Aug. 18. The two with the highest totals were advancing to the Nov. 3 general election.
Cape Coral has a council-manager form of government with a mayor and seven districts with population sizes that are as equal as possible and follow the center lines of streets or canals. The mayor position is paid an annual salary of nearly $50,000. With a half-dozen combatants, a recount was possible if a candidate was eliminated by ½ of 1% or less of the total votes cast for an office, according to state elections guidelines put in place in 2022.
Look for continuing coverage and updates here as election night results roll out and in the News-Press for the latest leading up to November, when voters make their final decision in the race. Here are the candidates who were in contention:
John Gunter
Mayor since 2021 and a Cape resident for 19 years, Gunter is Gulf Coast Premier Homes president. “Commitment to public safety continues to be a top priority — a cornerstone” of his administration, said Gunter, 62, who noted on the campaign trail of “recently advocating for the expansion of the Cape Coral Fire Department to match the city’s rapid growth.”
Kara Rogers
She is an attorney and one of the owners of the Cape Coral-based Powers & Rogers law firm. “My professional life has been built on a foundation of rigorous analysis, strategic problem-solving and an unwavering commitment to improving the lives of the people around me — qualities I believe are essential for leading our beloved community,” Rogers, 39, said before voters started showing up at the polls.
Dan Sheppard
A former Cape city council member, he has been a landscape businessman since 1999. “The best decisions for Cape Coral aren’t made for today; they’re made for the next generation.” Sheppard, 63, said during the campaign. “Most people make their decisions based on today. I don’t do that. I’m always looking out four or five years into the future.”
Richard E. Erickson
Retiring from the United States Army after more than 32 years, he also worked as paramedic. “I’m running for mayor because Cape Coral residents are being ignored and forced to bear the cost of decisions that benefit developers and special interests,” Erickson, 63, said prior to election night. “Trust in our local government has eroded, and families are feeling the strain.”
Richard Andrew Leon
A resident since 1989 and former council member, he has worked in retail for about 14 years. “Leadership should be both professional and personal, thoughtful and compassionate,” Leon, 39, said along the campaign trail. “My vision is simple: A Cape Coral where leadership means listening first, where we work together instead of against each other and where every resident feels they have a voice in shaping our future.”
Lisa Cohen-Adkinson
A Cape resident since 1990, she is Valor Real Estate Services Inc. broker and owner, who for more than 15 years “has stood at the public podium, challenging bad decisions, demanding accountability and fighting for the residents of this city,” Cohen-Adkinson, 46, said prior to votes being tallied. Her campaign is centered around “God, community, the Constitution.”
Writing In the Know for the USA TODAY Network, Columnist Phil Fernandez (pfernandez@gannett.com) grew up in Southwest Florida and has led Pulitzer Prize-winning efforts. Sign up for our free Breaking Ground growth and development newsletter. Subscribe to our News-Press and Naples Daily News apps.
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Cape Coral mayor fought to keep his seat election night. Voters decide
Reporting by Phil Fernandez, Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News / Fort Myers News-Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Phil Fernandez, Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News | USA TODAY Network
