Primary day features two universal elections
Primary day will be a lot more than just primaries for Fort Myers Beach voters and other voters countywide today.
In two countywide races open to all registered voters regardless of party, Fort Myers Beach residents will have a chance to have their say on a Lee County Board of County Commissioners seat and the District 6 open seat on the School District of Lee County School Board.
The District 5 seat on the Lee County Board of County Commissioners is universal primary featuring two Republicans facing each other. However, registered voters of any party and non-affiliated voters (independents) will be able to vote in the race between Commissioner Trish Petrosky and challenger Amanda Cochran. Petrosky, 35, a former Realtor and executive assistant at Evangelical Christian School, was appointed to the seat in December by Gov. Ron DeSantis to replace the late Mike Greenwell. Cochran is the co-owner of RE/MAX River & Ranch, and has made her name speaking out against development projects in and around Alva, including the new high school being built in Alva. She narrowly lost a primary against Greenwell in 2024. The two Alva Republicans have sparred over the pace of growth in the county.
While District 5 covers the northern and eastern party of the county, all registered voters in the county are eligible to vote in the race regardless of their district.
School District of Lee County School Board District 6 trustee Jada Langford Fleming (left) is running for re-election in the open district race covering all of Lee County, against a challenge from India Palencia (right).
Photos provided
The same holds true for the District 6 school board race between incumbent Jada Langford Fleming and challenger India Palencia. Langford Fleming, a former elementary school teacher who taught for 20 years and currently works as an athletic trainer, is seeking a second term in office. Palencia, a substitute teacher from Estero, is seeking her first term. The school district’s fiscal crisis has been a top issue, with Palencia pledging to provide more oversight of spending, and Fleming backing the superintendent and school board’s approach to cutting staff.
Lieutenant Governor Jay Collins (left to right), former Speaker of the House Paul Renner, and U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds are among the leading candidates seeking the governorship in a Republican primary. Photos provided
Fort Myers Beach and Lee County registered Republican Party voters will have a say in the Republican primary for Governor, which features Lieutenant Governor Jay Collins, U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, and former Florida Speaker of the House Paul Renner as among the leading candidates. Other candidates include James Fishback, Jim Holcomb, Arthur Joseph McCaffrey, Daniel Nokovich, Rachel Rodriguez, James Shaw, Caneste Succe, and Bobby Williams
In the Democratic primary for Governor, David Jolly is widely considered the frontrunner in a race that also features Evelyn Castillo-Bach, Thomas Eloy Fernandez, Dayna Marie Foster, Dotie Joseph, and Stephann Norman.
Registered Democrats and Republicans on Fort Myers Beach will also be sorting out primaries for the 19th Congressional District seat being vacated by Donalds. The seat covers Fort Myers Beach, most of Lee County and Collier County.
The Republican Congressional primary for the District 19 seat features 10 candidates: Greg Bukowski, Madison Cawthorn, Chris Collins, Ola Hawatmeh, Catalina Lauf, Jim Oberweis, Mike Pedersen, Linda Sawyer, Jim Schwartzel, and John Strand.
The Democratic primary is being decided between Victor Arias, Robert Neeld, and Howard Sapp.
There are also three nonpartisan races all voters will be deciding involving judgeships. Circuit Judge James Stewart, who was appointed to a seat on the 20th Judicial Circuit by Gov. Ron DeSantis, is facing a challenge from Fort Myers attorney Vera Bergermann. Judge Amanda Levy-Reis of the 20th Judicial Circuit is facing a challenge from attorney Ryan Kuhl. Lee County Judge Javier Pacheco, who was appointed by Gov. DeSantis, is being challenged by Mike Colombo.
There is also a Republican primary for the U.S. Senate seat held by Senator Ashley Moody. Moody is facing challenges from Chris Gleason, Neelam Taneja Perry, and Ernest “Ernie” Rivera.
According to the Lee County Supervisor of Elections, 25% of the vote has already taken place by early voting and mail ballots. There have been 126,923 votes cast as of Tuesday afternoon, out of 494,200 eligible voters.
Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Fort Myers Beach at the Bay Oaks Recreational Campus at 2731 Oak Street and at the Town of Fort Myers Beach Town Hall at 6231 Estero Boulevard.
The Town of Fort Myers Beach Council election for three seats will be held on Nov. 3.