Cereceda answers Observer questions of the week for Town of Fort Myers Beach Council candidates
Town of Fort Myers Beach Local Planning Agency Chair Anita Cereceda, the town’s first mayor, is seeking a seat on the Town of Fort Myers Beach Council in the Nov. 3 election. Cereceda answered the following questions from the Fort Myers Beach Observer as the first part of our questions of the week for town council candidates:
Name: Anita Cereceda
Age: 65
Place of birth: Tampa, Florida
Education: Attended Florida State University, majoring in philosophy and theatre.
Places lived before moving to Fort Myers Beach: Tampa, Orlando and Tallahassee
When did you move to Fort Myers Beach? Permanently in 1988
What is your current job, occupation or business? I own The Islander, Gift & Gallery Boutique in Santini Plaza
What were your previous jobs and occupations? I’ve done everything from bartending to selling cars! The Pier Peddler and Local Color were also my stores before Hurricane Ian washed them away in 2022.
Political experience: First Mayor of Fort Myers Beach after winning election to Town Council and being appointed as mayor by fellow councilmembers, Town of Fort Myers Beach Councilmember from 1996-2000, and again from 2014-2020, serving as mayor and councilmember between 2018-20, currently chair of the Local Planning Agency. Also served on the Lee County Charter Review board, and the Tourist Development Council.
Community involvement: Fort Myers Beach Community Foundation and Fort Myers Beach Women’s Club.
What attracted you to Fort Myers Beach and what do you want its future to look like? Growing up in Southwest Florida I have always loved the water and the beaches. Fort Myers Beach, back in the late 80’s was an easy place to be with a real laid back island vibe with a mix of residents, fishermen, visitors, affluent business people. There’s just no other place that welcomes me home like this island does. Though the island may look different, I hope our future still holds that same feeling.
What are your goals on the Council and how do you think you can help achieve your goals for the future of Fort Myers Beach on the Council? To be able to bridge the division that folks feel. I’ll be as accessible and open as always and bring a new approach to doing business to Town Hall. Nothing will be more important than a balanced budget and right sizing our government. Difficult decisions still need to be made about the school, the pool, Bay Oaks, the Mound House and the Mooring Field. We need to match our government to the needs of our community Now and not what it was pre-Ian. Most important of all to me is preserving the character of our community as we move in to the next phase of our redevelopment.
Comment on your opinion regarding the Town of Fort Myers Beach Council’s decision to raise the parking meter rate from $5 to $6, and what ways you would address the town’s ongoing budget and financial issues.
I would not have raised the parking fee to $6 an hour. It seemed like a hasty decision plus it makes our parking the most expensive in Lee County. Ft. Myers Beach has always been a “family island.” With rising gas prices and increased fees this could impact families in a negative way. It also has the potential to hurt the revitalization of our downtown district which is so important to our overall recovery.
I believe the ongoing budget issues need to be dealt with head on. We need a 5 year “financial” strategic plan. Financial planning that ultimately provides a transparent view of our resources and obligations, simply explained, to the public. A plan that looks to secure our reserves and show taxpayers how our future government operates independent of grants and recovery monies. It’s time to turn the page and move from recovery to reconciliation in every sense of the word.