Recall group issues open letter to registered voters of Fort Myers Beach
Our Town and Town Council operate under a set of rules and laws that are intended to ensure that the public is informed and has a fair voice in the operation of the Town and in the land use decisions that affect us. This public trust has been eroded when Councilors operate out of the public eye and have private meetings with developers and each other. This has created a process where developers negotiate behind closed doors and councilors enter a quasi-judicial land use hearing with a strong bias.
The Comprehensive Plan and Land Development Code is a legally binding agreement with the residents and the Town. This Town Council has failed to meet its obligations to this agreement with not only egregious irresponsible development since Hurricane Ian but also in other areas:
· Commercial intrusion into residential neighborhoods and canals
· Dilution of condo values by adding inventory to an over saturated market.
· Overextending the island’s infrastructure.
· Ignoring the Comprehensive Plan and Land Development Code.
The community is frustrated, and exasperated as there appears to be no mechanism to halt this destructive ideology.
The laws of the state of Florida and the Town of Fort Myers Beach empowers the Town electorate to elect the Town Council. These laws also have mechanisms to recall and remove members of the Town Council who have lost the public’s trust through actions that violate State and Town codes. We would like to recall the only two eligible Councilors, John King and Karen Woodson. A recall is not a criminal trial, but rather a referendum that is solely decided by the voter as judge and jury. We did not take this action lightly, and the process is long and complicated. This approach sends an unmistakable message that the Town Councilors must not favor developers over the voice of the electorate by negotiating out of the public eye.
The community feels this is the last, best opportunity to try to stop this run-away direction that risks devouring our barrier island.
Don’t delay, act now or forever hold your peace. Non-participation in the recall means you are agreeable to the behind closed-door approach of John King and Karen Woodson that will result in the continued irresponsible development of our island home. Please, the time to act is now. Contact: recallKingFMB@gmail.com by email and we will personally expedite petitions to you for your signature.
Ray Murphy, Bill Veach for the Recall Committee
To reach Ray Murphy and Bill Veach for the Recall Committee, please email