Lee County Commissioner Trish Petrosky retracted her claims Friday, June 26, that official candidacy filing documents were “doctored.”
This comes after Petrosky told an audience at a candidate forum in Lehigh Acres Monday, June 22, that her paperwork had been altered to include a zip code from Nokomis, Florida. In a statement June 26, Petrosky apologized for what she called an incorrect assumption.
“The document was signed by me in the presence of a notary. The ZIP code was a typo. My street address, city, and state are correct, and my ZIP code is correct on my other qualifying documents. This was a typographical error, not a conspiracy,” she wrote in her statement. “Unfortunately, my opponent and her Democrat supporters have shown they will stoop to any level to attack me and my character, which led me to make an incorrect assumption. For that, I am sorry. They are clearly more concerned with political theater than the issues facing Lee County. Thank you again for reaching out and giving me the opportunity to put this to rest.”
Petrosky and Amanda Cochran are vying for the District 5 seat on the Lee Board of County Commissioners. Lee County voters, regardless of where they live in the county, will be able to determine who wins the seat in the primary election Aug. 18.
Cochran, the Republican challenger in the District 5 race, disputed Petrosky’s characterization of the event. Cochran stated that the issue was not a coordinated attack but a question raised by a constituent:
“I did not discover the error, nor did I raise the issue. A voter attending the public forum asked the question. A Candidate Oath is a sworn statement signed under oath by an individual seeking the public’s trust and asking to serve in elected office. Voters have every right to ask questions about the information contained in that document, particularly when it relates to a candidate’s residence,” she wrote in a statement to The News-Press & Naples Daily News Friday, June 26.
Cochran also addressed Petrosky’s change in explanations regarding the document’s authenticity: “During the forum, my opponent initially stated emphatically that the ZIP code on her Official Candidate Oath was correct. When provided with a copy of the Candidate Oath as it appeared on the Lee County Supervisor of Elections website, she stated that the document had been ‘doctored.’
“She has since acknowledged that the document was authentic and that the incorrect ZIP code was the result of a typographical error. For me, this has never been about a typographical error. Nor has it been about Republicans, Democrats, or personal attacks. It is about accountability, transparency, and credibility. Candidates for public office should expect voters to ask legitimate questions about sworn documents they file, and those questions deserve accurate answers.”
How did the allegations start?
During a candidate forum for the Lee County Commission District 5 race, several attendees asked Petrosky about a non-Alva zip code listed on her filing documents. Cochran then presented a copy of a candidate filing document she said she pulled from the Lee.vote website. The document listed a 34275 zip code for Petrosky’s Alva residence.
Petrosky immediately disputed the record. “No, this is not mine. This is doctored,” Petrosky said. She told the crowd her full Alva address and said the zip code she submitted in the filing was 33920. She described the 34275 record as “something from Facebook that keeps getting reposted” and offered to provide her original documents.
Lee County Democrats call for investigation
The Nokomis zip code on a local candidate’s filing caused concern because Nokomis is the location for a developer with business interests in Alva.
Jim Rosinus, chair of the Lee County Democratic Executive Committee, noted this connection when explaining why the party requested an investigation.
“We have requested an investigation (not an official complaint) into the allegations made at a recent Meet the Candidates forum. Candidate Petrosky was accused of using a zip code from Nokomis, FL (the headquarters of a developer with interests in Alva) on her qualifying documents,” Rosinus said in a statement to The News-Press & Naples Daily News Wednesday, June 24. “She responded by accusing the SOE of doctoring her paperwork. We do not know the truth of that allegation, but we think it is necessary to do a full, independent, transparent investigation into what exactly is going on (if anything) in the SOE office.”
What is the Elections Office’s role in candidate filings?
Supervisor of Elections Jenna Persons-Mulicka, who was appointed to the role by Gov. Ron DeSantis in May, said her office has verified the document in question as the original version. She explained that the office’s responsibility is limited to ensuring documents are complete.
“Our office’s qualifying department accepts and reviews the documents to ensure they are complete, as required by state law,” Persons-Mulicka wrote in a statement to The News-Press & Naples Daily News Thursday, June 25. “As the Supervisor, I am not permitted by law to judge the accuracy of the contents.”
She cited a Florida Statute regarding the duties of a filing officer: “The filing officer performs a ministerial function in reviewing qualifying papers. In determining whether a candidate is qualified, the filing officer shall review the qualifying papers to determine whether all items required by paragraph (a) have been properly filed and whether each item is complete on its face, including whether items that must be verified have been properly verified pursuant to s. 92.525(1)(a). The filing officer may not determine whether the contents of the qualifying papers are accurate.”
Persons-Mulicka confirmed that Petrosky is a qualified candidate and will remain on the ballot.
DeSantis appointed Petrosky to the District 5 seat in December 2025 following the death of Commissioner Mike Greenwell. She is currently seeking election to the seat for the remainder of the term.
A live stream video of the candidate forum is posted on the Buckingham Community Association Inc’s Facebook page.
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Mickenzie Hannon is a watchdog reporter for The News-Press and Naples Daily News, covering Collier and Lee counties. Contact her at 239-435-3423 or mhannon@gannett.com.
Charlie Whitehead covers Lee County and Fort Myers. Reach him at Cwhitehead@gannett.com
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This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Lee County commissioner says ‘doctored’ filing discrepancy was her typo
Reporting by Mickenzie Hannon and Charlie Whitehead, Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News / Fort Myers News-Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Mickenzie Hannon and Charlie Whitehead, Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News | USA TODAY Network
