Brady, Link, Schoonover file to run for Town Council seats
Town of Fort Myers Beach Councilmember Rebecca Link, Fort Myers Beach Local Planning Agency member Edward Schoonover, and Protect FMB President Tom Brady have filed paperwork to run for the Town of Fort Myers Beach Council seats up for election this November.
The deadline to file is approaching soon. The Lee County Supervisor of Elections office, which handles the town’s elections, has set qualifying dates of June 8 at noon through June 12 for candidates to submit their paperwork and pay the election fees to run for office.
Pre-qualifying began this past week, whereby candidates can submit their paperwork early.
Link is seeking re-election to her seat, which she won last November in the recall of former Councilmember Karen Woodson. Link is seeking a four-year term.
“I am seeking re-election because I care deeply about Fort Myers Beach and believe there is still important work ahead,” Link said.
“Serving this community has been both a privilege and a responsibility that I take very seriously. Our town continues to face important decisions that will shape its future for years to come, and I am committed to ensuring those decisions are made thoughtfully, transparently, and with the best interests of residents in mind.
Link said she wants to “support long-term recovery and resilience, improve communication with residents, and promote responsible planning for the future. I remain dedicated to serving with integrity, professionalism, and a strong commitment to our community’s success.”
Schoonover was appointed to the Local Planning Agency by Town Council in April.
In a letter to residents, Schoonover said “we need leadership that understands the balance between protecting what makes our community special and planning responsibly for the future.”
Schoonover, who works as a property manager and development coordinator, voted last month on the Local Planning Agency to support London Bay’s Outrigger Beach Resort redevelopment project.
Protect FMB President Tom Brady, who has led opposition to Seagate Development Group’s condo tower project, filed paperwork to run for one of the three council seats up for re-election. Brady earned the second-most votes in the recall election in November, outpolling King.
Councilmember John McLean, who was appointed to his seat by the Town Council in February, said that he intends to run to retain his seat though he has not yet filed papers with the Lee County Supervisor of Elections as of press time. McClain was appointed by Town Council in February to fill the seat previously occupied by former Councilmember Jim Atterholt. The seat will be up for a new four-year term in November.
Councilmember John King, who was outvoted in the November recall election but whose position on Council was upheld when a county judge invalidated the recall petition for King, has not yet publicly committed to whether he will run again for his seat. His term is up this November. King was first elected to his seat in 2022.
The qualifying fee to run for one of the Fort Myers Beach council seats is $684.09
All qualifying documents for the local elections must be submitted to the Supervisor of Elections at 2480 Thompson Street, Fort Myers 33901. The qualifying office is located at the Lee County Supervisor of Elections, Melvin Morgan Constitutional Complex, 2480 Thompson Street, third floor.
Fort Myers Beach Board of Fire Commissioners Chair John Bennett has filed to run for re-election. He is not facing any challenge as of press time.
The qualifying dates on Fort Myers Beach are the same for the two open seats on the Lee County Board of County Commissioners, and the four open seats on the School District of Lee County School Board.
There are three seats up for election on the Lee County Board of County Commissioners. District 2 Commissioner Cecil Pendergrass (R-Fort Myers), whose district covers Fort Myers, is seeking re-election to a new four-year term. Pendergrass is facing a Republican primary challenger in Keegan Hall, of Fort Myers. District 4 Commissioner Brian Hamman (R-Cape Coral), whose district includes Cape Coral and Fort Myers, is also seeking re-election a four-year term. No candidates have yet filed to challenge him. District 5 Commissioner Trish Petrosky (R-Alva) is seeking to retain her seat after being appointed last year by Gov. Ron DeSantis to fill the office of the late Commissioner Mike Greenwell. Petrosky is currently facing a challenge from Alva resident Amanda Cochran, who previously primaried Greenwell in a close race. District 5 includes Alva, Buckingham, Lehigh Acres, and part of North Fort Myers. Cape Coral resident Michael Mincieli has filed as a write-in candidate for the office.
There are four School District of Lee County School Board seats up for election for four-year terms.
The seats of District 1, District 4, District 5, and District 6 on the school board are all up for election this November.
District 1 is held by Sam Fisher, a Cape Coral attorney who is currently facing challenges from Cape Coral residents Gabriel Denny, Heidi Charlotte Fausel and Jenn McDaigle.
District 4 is held by Debbie Jordan, a Fort Myers resident who has held the seat since 2018. Jordan is being challenged by Fort Myers residents Carl Baxter and Gisele Gentile, and North Fort Myers resident Tony Beougher.
District 5 is held by Chair Armor Persons, who is facing challenges from Fort Myers residents Crystal Johnson and Carline Saintilus.
District 6 is the at-large seat currently held by Jada Langford-Fleming, of Fort Myers. Fort Myers resident India Palencia has announced she is challenging Lanford-Fleming for the seat.
Supervisor of Elections Jenna Persons-Mulicka, who was appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis to the office last month, is facing challenges from DeMaria Artis, who has no party affiliation, and Democrat Chris Vignieri.
In addition to the local races, there will be statewide races up for election this November including Governor, State House and State Senate. There will also be a Republican primary for the seat of outgoing Congressman Byron Donalds (R-Naples), who is seeking the governor’s office.
Locally, State Rep. Adam Botana (R-Bonita Springs), who represents Fort Myers Beach in the state legislature, is running for another two-year term representing District 80. District 80 covers Bonita Springs, Estero, Fort Myers Beach and Sanibel. So far, Botana is facing a challenge from Estero Democrat William Moskal.
Those running for a State House seat need to file paperwork with the State Division of Elections in Tallahassee. The state seats have the same qualifying dates as the local seats.