Ed Schoonover, Local Planning Agency member, candidate for Town of Fort Myers Beach Council, answers questions ahead of election

Oct 5, 2026 3 min read

Ed Schoonover, candidate for Town of Fort Myers Beach Council. Photo provided

Ed Schoonover, a member of the Town of Fort Myers Beach Local Planning Agency, is one of four candidates seeking three seats on the Town of Fort Myers Beach Council. Schoonover answered the following questions from the Fort Myers Beach Observer regarding his candidacy:

Ed Schoonover

Age:66

Birthplace/raised: Born at Groton Naval Base, Groton, Connecticut. Raised in northern Minnesota and Palm Harbor, Florida

When did you move to Fort Myers Beach? 2018

Education: High school graduate

Current job and occupation: Property Manager, JMKS Properties

Previous jobs and occupations: Director of operations for public recreational facilities (baseball/softball fields, civic centers, gymnasiums, aquatic centers and exercise pools, cardio and weight training rooms, fitness centers/studios, classrooms, and playground areas).

Political experience: None

Community involvement: Currently on Fort Myers Beach Local Planning Agency, previously on Anchorage Advisory Committee, Bay Oaks Recreation Campus Advisory Board, Charter Review Commission

What attracted you to Fort Myers Beach and what do you want its future to look like?

A former vacation spot for my wife Janell and I was the Red Coconut RV Park. We fell in love with the beach, the ability to walk our dogs leashed and the public accessibility of bars, restaurants and shopping available along the beach walks. It is this island vibe that drove us to permanently move to Fort Myers Beach. The future Fort Myers Beach would keep these characteristics and concentrate on keeping town amenities like parks and schools while retaining low taxes and strong property values.

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?

I would like Fort Myers Beach to retain its beach vibe character and public amenities along the beach that attracted us to relocate here. On Council, my goals would be to help complete our recovery, improve infrastructure and drainage and support economic growth that enhances the beach vibe and walkability and bike ability of our town. My professional experience managing properties and public building operations combined with my service on Town boards, gives me practical experience in operations, planning and problem solving. I want to put that experience to use in helping build a stronger and more resilient Fort Myers Beach for the future.

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 am against the hourly fee raise to $6. I feel the businesses could be negatively impacted.

The town needs to recognize that the new builds and new businesses will add more to our tax rolls in a natural way. Reimagining how we operate town amenities such as Bay Oaks and the Mound House can support lower tax rates for our residents and not have a detrimental effect on the amenities.