Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Naples), who represents Fort Myers Beach, Collier County and most of Lee County. File photo

In his two terms in Congress representing Fort Myers Beach, most of Lee County and all of Collier County in the 19th Congressional District, Republican Byron Donalds has built himself a national reputation through media appearances as an outspoken supporter of former President Donald Trump through his trials and tribulations.

His opponent in next week’s election, former New Hampshire State Rep. Kari Lerner believes Donalds has spent too much time in the national spotlight and not enough time in his own district. Lerner, a 64-year-old Ohio native who grew up in Cape Coral and returned to Lee County after serving in New Hampshire as a state representative, said the 46-year-old Donalds has not done enough to bring federal resources back to Lee County.

Through alliances with the conservative Freedom Caucus in the House, Donalds found himself nominated for Speaker of the House last year during a power struggle over the speakership sought by California Republican Kevin McCarthy. Donalds was named on as many as 20 ballots by his fellow Republicans over several rounds of voting. After 15 rounds of voting, McCarthy was eventually elected. Several months later, McCarthy would be removed and replaced by Louisiana Republican Mike Johnson.

Donalds, of Naples, said he supports Johnson. “I didn’t go to Washington D.C. to be Speaker. To be part of history in a small way was surreal,” said the New York native.

“I hope we don’t have to do that again,” Donalds said. “We need to be supportive of Speaker Johnson.”

Kari Lerner, a Democrat and former state representative in New Hampshire, is challenging Rep. Byron Donalds for his seat representing the 19th Congressional District

Since then, Donalds was also floated as a potential Vice President pick for Trump earlier this year and has not dodged rumors he is considering a run for governor when the term of Ron DeSantis ends in 2026.

Donalds has more recently made headlines for having voted in September against a continuing resolution to fund the government. That included $20 billion for FEMA’s disaster relief fund and funding for the National Flood Insurance Program. Supporters of the measure accused Republican opponents of having watered down the bill.

Donalds said his vote against the stopgap funding bill Sept. 25 due to issues unrelated to FEMA or hurricane assistance. The vote occurred just a day before Hurricane Helene landed. “There was a myriad of reasons,” Donalds said of his no-vote.

“It’s not clear if Joe Biden is actually running the country,” Donalds said. “There are still resources in the FEMA recovery fund.” Donalds called FEMA a “bureaucratic agency that doesn’t respond well to natural disasters.”

Two years ago after Hurricane Ian hit, Donalds said he would look to help bring funds and resources to Fort Myers Beach through a member item as part of a supplemental package. Donalds said his efforts were unsuccessful. “We hit a blockade,” Donalds said.

Donalds said he has put forth other bills to assist hurricane victims, including one bill which would allow those affected by hurricanes to deduct expenses related to disasters from their taxes. They have not yet passed through Congress.

“Byron Donalds did absolutely nothing for us,” Lerner said in regards to Hurricane Ian. “We were ground zero and he did nothing,” she said. “We needed resources.”

Lerner said that the vote by Donalds against the continuing resolution as Hurricane Helene approached Florida “compounded” the issue. “His actions seem to indicate he is more interested in playing political games,” Lerner said. “There are a lot of things you can do for your district.”

Lerner moved to Cape Coral in the early 1970’s and graduated from Cypress Lake High School. She also lived in Captiva and Sanibel and said she worked three jobs. In New Hampshire, she also worked as a substitute math teacher. Lerner has a license as a Realtor and previously led the Lee County Democratic Party.

Donalds, a New York native who resides in Naples, has worked as a financial advisor for a wealth management company in Naples.

Donalds said that while FEMA has helped Lee County and Fort Myers Beach with assistance, he believes the agency needs an overhaul. He took part in hearings with FEMA as part of a House subcommittee overseeing the agency in Fort Myers last year.

Donalds wrote a letter to FEMA objecting to the agency’s decision earlier this year to take away the National Flood Insurance discount for Lee County, Fort Myers Beach and other municipalities based on unpermitted work after Hurricane Ian.

“We were very direct with FEMA,” Donalds said. He credited the letters with putting the action on hold while the county and town file plans with FEMA to address their concerns. “It doesn’t make sense to penalize everybody in Southwest Florida,” Donalds said.

Donalds said he supports funding FEMA. “FEMA has become a very bureaucratic agency as opposed to being action-oriented and giving people help in a moment’s notice,” he said.

Lerner said Donalds needs to do more to bring resources home and meet in public forums with residents and elected representatives. “Bring the resources of the federal government home,” she said.

Lerner also criticized voted by Donalds in 2021 not voting to fully certify the results of the presidential election between Trump and President Joe Biden. “I think that it is anti-American,” Lerner said.

Lerner supports funding and arming Ukraine against the invasion by Russian forces. “The smart move is to continue to support Ukraine,” Lerner said. Donalds said the war there “needs to come to an end.” He believes both sides are at a stalemate. “We don’t have another $200 billion for Ukraine to continue the conflict,” Donalds said.

In regards to the war Israel is fighting against the terrorist organization Hamas after the atrocities it committed on Oct. 7 last year and its response to missile attacks from Iran and its other proxies including Hezbollah, Donalds said “Israel needs to finish the job. The only pathway for peace is for Israel to eradicate its enemies.”

Lerner said that she supports “Israel’s right to defend itself and the right of the hostages to come home” but also said she “doesn’t support genocide.” When questioned to support her claim of genocide, Lerner said “I don’t have the citations.”

Hamas kidnapped more than 200 people from Israel on Oct. 7 last year and murdered more than 1,200 people in its surprise attack and invasion of Israel. The terrorist group continues to hold more than 100 hostages in the Gaza Strip. Israel has responded by attacking Hamas in the Gaza Strip, which has resulted in approximately 40,000 deaths – about half of which are believed to be Hamas fighters, according to the Associated Press. Iran, which has been the main financier of Hamas, has also launched attacks against Israel from proxies in Iraq, Syria and Yemen. This month, Iran launched approximately 200 ballistic missiles against Israel and in April launched about 200 missiles and 170 drones into Israel in which Israel, American and other forces helped repel most of them.

Both candidates say they want to secure the border with Mexico. “We need to know who is crossing our borders,” Lerner said. Lerner said a bipartisan bill negotiated earlier this year would have allowed for more border agents and judges. The bill ultimately did not garner enough Republican support in the Senate. “It was a terrible piece of legislation,” Donalds said. Donalds said if former President Donald Trump is elected, the former immigration restrictions enacted by Trump would return.

“Walls alone won’t do it,” Lerner said.