Single-member district bill passed by state legislature

Law would create referendum on county commissioner races

The state legislature has passed legislation which will allow Lee County voters to decide in 2026 through referendum if they want to elect Lee County commissioners by district.

The bill still needs the approval of Gov. Ron DeSantis. The governor announced this week he has received the bill.

The bill was introduced by State Rep. Mike Giallombardo (R-Cape Coral).

Currently, commissioners are voted at-large by county voters. Under the proposed law change, if voters approve, commissioners will be voted in only by voters registered in their district beginning in 2028. Voters would not be able to vote for commissioner outside their districts.

Currently, commissioners have to live within their district but are beholden to all the voters in the county.

The bill has been opposed by Lee County District 2 Commissioner Cecil Pendergrass, who said the bill would dissuade commissioners from needing to appeal to all county residents or responding to the concerns of residents outside their district.

The bill was also opposed by District 5 Commissioner Mike Greenwell at its initial introduction in 2023 at a state delegation hearing. A number of residents from Greenwell’s district have publicly supported the bill. An unsuccessful primary challenge to Greenwell from Amanda Cochran in 2024 would have led to his defeat if only the votes from District 5 had been counted.

Giallombardo has pushed the legislation as a way to make the county government more representative. Giallombardo could not be reached for comment as of press time.

Rep. Jenna Persons-Mulicka, whose husband David Mulicka sits on the Lee County Board of County Commissioners, was the lone member of the Lee County state delegation in the state legislature to oppose the bill.