Fort Myers Beach voters facing charter questions in loaded ballot this year

Proposed charter changes would extend terms of appointed councilmembers, create salary review commission

Oct 14, 2026 By Nathan Mayberg 5 min read

Fort Myers Beach Charter Review Commission Chair James Dunlap

Fort Myers Beach voters have their work cut out for them this year with numerous ballot questions in addition to their votes for town council, county and statewide offices.

With early voting already underway for the Nov. 3 election, voters in Fort Myers Beach are being asked to decide four town charter questions, two charter questions related to the Lee County Board of County Commissioners, and three state referendum questions including the controversial homestead exemption increase from $50,000 to $250,000 for local property taxes (excluding school taxes).

One of the town charter questions would fundamentally extend the length of term for an appointed councilmember.

The town’s charter review commission voted earlier this year to place on the ballot a proposed charter change that would alter the length of a term for a councilmember from the current timeframe of the next regularly scheduled election, and instead extend the term of office for the remainder of that person’s term. The current length of term for a councilmember is four years.

In other words, if a councilmember were elected on Nov. 3, and resigned in January, the Town of Fort Myers Beach Council could appoint someone to fill that seat through November of 2030. Under the current system, the council can only appoint someone to fill a vacant seat on the town council through the next regularly scheduled election in November of 2028. When the Town of Fort Myers Beach Council appointed John McLean in February to fill the seat of former Vice Mayor Jim Atterholt, the appointment was good through the next regularly scheduled election of Nov. 3. If the proposed change had been in place, McLean would have served through November of 2028.

Voters must also decide whether they want to change the town’s charter, or bylaws, in order to establish a mandated salary commission to recommend changes to the salaries of town councilmembers. The proposed salary commission was one of four charter amendments put forth on this year’s ballot for town voters by the town’s Charter Review Commission members, who were led by Jim Dunlap.

The other town charter questions ask voters whether they want to require the adoption of ordinances

prohibiting acceptance of unlawful gifts, and requiring disclosure of ex parte communications

in quasi-judicial proceedings.

A fourth charter amendment would automatically install the vice mayor as the next mayor of the town, in the event the current mayor’s seat become vacant, and would allow the sitting vice mayor to remain as mayor until the council’s annual mayor election. The Town of Fort Myers Beach councilmembers vote to appoint the town’s mayor each year.

There are three seats up for the Town of Fort Myers Beach Council. Incumbent Councilmember Rebecca Link is seeking to retain the seat she won from former Councilmember Karen Woodson in a recall election, while former Fort Myers Beach Mayor Anita Cereceda is joined by Local Planning Agency member Ed Schoonover and Protect FMB President Tom Brady in seeking one of the three open seats on the council. Councilmembers John King and John McLean are not defending their current seats. The seats carry a four-year term.

Fort Myers Beach voters also have to determine whether to approve merging the Fort Myers Beach Mosquito Control District into the Lee County Mosquito Control District. The controversial bill was introduced by State Rep. Mike Giallombardo (R-Cape Coral) and has been opposed by Fort Myers Beach Mosquito Control District commissioners. Opponents cite the loss of local control and the higher millage rate of the Mosquito Control District, which is nearly twice the millage rate of the Fort Myers Beach Mosquito Control District. Fort Myers Beach property owners would have to pay the higher rate if the two districts merge.

Voters must also decide whether to merge the Fort Myers Beach Fire Control District into the Iona Fire District. The proposal was led by State Rep. Adam Botana (R-Bonita Springs) over opposition from fire commissioners in both districts. A merger study found no significant savings and the property owned by the Fort Myers Beach Fire Control District, including the new fire station, would go into the hands of the Iona district.

At the county level, voters are being asked whether they want to change the county charter to restrict the right of voters to vote for all county commissioners, and instead limit votes for commissioners within the districts they represent. The change was opposed by Lee County commissioners and championed by Lee County’s state legislative delegation.

A second proposed county charter change would limit the number of consecutive terms for county constitutional officers, meaning elected county officials, to three consecutive four-year terms.

Fort Myers Beach Fire Control District voters will also be voting whether to re-elect Commissioner Jim Knickle, who faces a challenge from Bret Randle. Fort Myers Beach Fire Commission Chair John Bennett and Commissioner Jacki Liszak are both running unopposed.

Fort Myers Beach voters will also get to have their say on the next governor, U.S. Senator, State Attorney General, congressman, state representative, county commissioners, and Lee County Supervisor of Elections, among other offices.