Cape Coral voters have selected candidates for Cape Coral City Council for the November 5 general election.
After Tuesday’s primaries, candidates who have moved on are now looking ahead to their future campaigns and the steps they must take to earn a spot on the podium.
In the second district, Laurie Lehmann and incumbent Dan Sheppard advance, in the third district, Derrick Donnell and Deborah McCormick advance, in the fourth district, Jennifer Nelson and incumbent Richard Carr advance, and in the fifth district, Charlie Pease and Joseph Kilraine face off, narrowly defeating incumbent Robert Welsh.
The 7th District race, in which two candidates were not on Tuesday’s primary ballot, will appear on the general election ballot.
District 2
Lehmann received the most votes in the District 2 primary, receiving 10,789 votes (40.81%), Sheppard came in second with 8,608 votes (32.56%), and Craig Unroe came in third with 7,038 votes (26.62%).
“All candidates have worked very hard on their primary campaigns,” said Lehmann. “I worked hard to get through the primary and now I must work even harder to ensure that I represent all of the citizens of Cape Coral and that their concerns and issues are no longer ignored.”
About the next steps in her campaign, she said: “I want to make sure that I am very familiar with the city’s concerns and problems and that the citizens are always at the center of everything. I will continue to work intensively on this.”
Sheppard said he was grateful for the support he had received.
“I am grateful that the citizens support me. I think I am doing the right thing and moving the city forward. I will continue to do so.”
Sheppard also said he was somewhat discouraged by the turnout in the primary election – only 23% nationwide – and would continue to work hard toward the general election.
“Unfortunately, voter turnout in the primaries remains low,” he said.
“I will continue to share my vision and challenges with the citizens of Cape Coral.
“I will share our successes with them and educate them on our new challenges as a community. I look forward to working with them as a full-time, proactive council member.”
District 3
Donnell was the vote-getter in the third district with 8,409 votes (32.27%), while McCormick came in second with 7,757 votes (29.76%).
Daniel Ludlow received the third most votes with 5,386 votes (20.67%) and Chad Bruening received fourth place with 4,509 votes (17.30%).
Of his findings from the primary election, Donnell told The Breeze: “My main takeaway from (Tuesday) night’s results is that our citizens do not feel that the current council is listening to their input and that is why they voted for change.”
“I will continue to encourage residents to stay in touch with the council and I am sure that as a first step I have already started work to reinstate our volunteer committees.”
When asked what changes he would make heading into the general election, Donnell said: “I will work harder.”
McCormick said “The election results show that voters want someone on City Council who is a part of them. They don’t want someone who only has their own personal interests. They want someone who understands their problems and is willing to help. I am that person. I am a grandmother, a mother, a 50-year resident, a Christian and a career public servant, and I am running to represent the people of Cape Coral on City Council. I wish Mr. Donnell the best of luck, but I maintain that my life experience and my career in public service make me the best choice for City Council.”
When asked what’s next for McCormick, she said: “We will be campaigning hard in November. We will go door to door to spread my message: eliminating the scholarship, compromising and protecting Jaycee Park, supporting first responders, restoring citizen advisory councils and more. My passion for my message has not diminished, it has only grown stronger.”
District 4
Nelson, a former 4th District council member, received the most votes in the district with 9,089 votes (34.40%). Carr came in second with 6,833 votes (25.86%).
William Matthews finished third with 6,013 votes (22.76%) and Robert Sutter finished fourth with 4,484 votes (16.97%).
“Last night’s results showed me that our community has confidence in me and trusts that I can get our city back on track with the citizens and their voice,” said Nelson.
“The road to becoming a general is paved with diligent, hard work and I am ready for this challenge.
“I look forward to meeting as many residents as possible over the next few months, listening to their concerns and am grateful for this opportunity to gain their trust.”
When asked what the election result meant to him, incumbent Richard Carr told The Breeze: “I am certainly no expert in election statistics, but I can say with certainty that my sincere commitment and efforts as an appointed incumbent have not gone unnoticed and that the unfortunate negative connotations often associated with the label ‘incumbent’ have not knocked me out of the race.”
“I still have a lot of work ahead of me. I need to reach as many residents and voters as possible and clearly explain and show them why I am the best choice for them and our city if we are to move forward. Now is not the time to take a step back.”
Regarding possible changes in November, Carr said: “It’s not about changing my behavior, but about trying harder to show voters and residents that my intentions are sincere and that I have the public’s best interests in mind in every decision I make. I’ve received wonderful feedback from the people I interact with and I hope others will see what I have to offer as their elected city council member.”
District 5
In the 5th constituency, Pease received the most votes with 9,004 votes (34.61%), just ahead of second-place Kilraine, who received 8,468 votes (32.55%).
Incumbent Welsh finished third with 5,674 votes (21.81%), while Jason Conzelman finished fourth with 2,869 votes (11.03%).
Regarding the results of the primary election, Pease said: “Cape Coral voters have shown they are ready for a change. There is a collective sense of distrust, and our residents are looking for leaders who will proactively communicate and solve problems. They want to know that our leaders are listening and willing to change their minds when it makes sense.”
“I look forward to working with our citizens and community stakeholders over the next few months as we prepare for the general election on November 5. Engaging with people and listening to their concerns is critical to effectively representing them on Council,” he said.
Regarding the changes in his campaign before the General Assembly, Pease said: “There are no major changes in strategy planned. I hope voters will find that I am the best candidate in the 5th District to build a better future for Cape Coral. I am rooted in our community – born and raised here. I am involved in our community and am a leader with a proven track record of getting things done for our community.”
Kilraine said he was grateful.
“First of all, I am very grateful and touched to the voters and all my supporters in the Cape,” he said. “I look forward to a tough and hard-fought campaign and invite all my Cape Town partners to join me in a common effort to re-energise ‘we, the voice of the people’ and make the city the wonderful place we are proud to call home.”
“We can and will emerge from recent difficulties restoring confidence in a better future where the wonders and memories of our paradise are preserved and protected and all experience safety and joy. We can move forward intelligently by properly matching infrastructure to growth, controlling unnecessary and wasteful spending, reducing the tax burden and bringing about exciting new developments in a way that increases resident satisfaction without adding additional costs, infrastructure and traffic congestion. Please join me, because this can only be achieved with your support.” he said.
Welsh declined to comment on the primary results.
Also on the November general election ballot will be Michael David Harper and Rachel Kaduk, vying for the 7th District seat.
Harper told The Breeze: “Since I began this process in late February, I have learned quite a bit about the city and its needs. I plan to continue to look for the best possible solutions to those needs and to educate the public on how I will solve these problems.”
Harper said he plans to make some changes in the final stretch.
“I plan to be more active now that the primaries are over,” he said. “Since it’s the only district with two candidates and the general election is already underway, I’ve been actively spreading my message, but I wanted to draw more attention to the four primaries.”
Kaduk said the turnout in the primary elections was eye-opening for her.
“I was surprised to learn that only a very small portion of our community participated in the primary election compared to the general election,” Said Kaduk. “I also learned that the public may need additional reminders about how the primary election works and when it is held, especially in Cape Coral. I have been volunteering and working in voting precincts for years and decided to skip this one because so many people were contacting me because my name was not on the ballot. It was flattering but also unsettling.”
Regarding her November appointment, Kaduk said, “I enter the general election with the utmost determination. I am very excited to continue serving our community in a new and different capacity.”
“I will continue to listen to residents, spread the word about who I am and what I stand for, and raise money to help me win in November.”
Cape Coral has a city manager/council form of government.
A contract city manager appointed by the council manages the day-to-day operations of the city.
The Cape Coral City Council is an elected eight-member body consisting of a mayor and seven council members who set policy and are accountable to the voters.
The mayor can live in any district. The council members are elected “at large” This means that while candidates must live in the district they seek to represent, seats are allocated through nonpartisan, citywide elections.
Every registered voter in the Cape, regardless of party affiliation or place of residence, can vote in all primary and general elections.
