Tuesday night (Aug. 18) pitted four candidates vying to become the next Cape Coral City Council member for District 1 in Southwest Florida‘s Lee County.
And now there are two with the highest totals advancing to the Nov. 3 general election after incumbent Bill Steinke did not seek another four-year term: Thomas Shadrach and Dave Newton.
District 1 includes southeast Cape Coral, but the voting was done citywide. All eligible voters, regardless of party affiliation, could cast their ballots in the non-partisan elections that wrapped up the first phase Tuesday Aug. 18.
Cape Coral has a council-manager form of government with seven districts with population sizes that are as equal as possible and follow the center lines of streets or canals. Council members are paid an annual salary of more than $44,000.
Look for continuing coverage in the News-Press for the latest leading up to November, when voters make their final decision in the race. Here are the candidates in order of finish:
Florida sunsets, boats, piers and docks along waterways of SWFL coast
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Boats, docks and piers along the waterways of the Southwest Florida coast. Uploaded July 30, 2026. (Phil Fernandez/ Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News)
Thomas Shadrach
Tom Shadrach
A retired Boeing defense manager and former Cape Coral mayoral candidate, Shadrach, 67, who garnered 35% of the vote, had touted his decades of management experience from the aerospace and defense industry. “I am deeply honored and humbled by the confidence the voters of Cape Coral have placed in me,” Shadrach said Tuesday while also thanking his opponents for “willingness to serve our community. Tonight’s victory belongs to every resident who believes our city deserves transparent leadership, common-sense spending and a City Hall that puts taxpayers first.
“This election demonstrates that Cape Coral residents are ready for experienced leadership that asks tough questions, protects every taxpayer dollar and plans for our city’s future with discipline and integrity. For more than seven years, I have been willing to ask those difficult questions as the citizens’ budget watchdog. I will bring that same commitment to the City Council dais. Every decision I make will be guided by one simple principle: taxpayers deserve an honest, transparent government that spends their money as carefully as they spend it themselves.”
David Newton
David Newton of Cape Coral.
An Air Force veteran and retired Las Vegas police officer, Newton, 54, said he was bringing a public safety and military background to the race. He had stressed fiscal responsibility, efficient government operations and protecting taxpayers while ensuring city services remain strong. Newton often pointed to his decades of law enforcement and leadership experience as preparation for addressing growth, public safety needs and infrastructure challenges facing Cape Coral.”This has been an incredible experience, and I’ve had the privilege of meeting so many fantastic people in this amazing city,” Newton said Tuesday night after picking up 30% of the vote. “My door will always be open because I believe every resident deserves to be heard by their elected officials. I will continue working hard every day.”
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Sean Hartman
Sean Hartman of Cape Coral.
A Cape Coral native and customer service specialist, Hartman positioned himself as a candidate focused on quality of life, government accountability and managing growth. Hartman emphasized the need for infrastructure to keep pace with development while balancing the tax burden on residents. As one of the younger candidates in the field, the 35-year-old presented himself as a fresh voice focused on long-term planning and maintaining Cape Coral’s appeal for future generations.
“The people of Cape Coral deserve to have someone who will listen to them and address their concerns,” Hartman said before votes were tallied. “My professional background is in customer service. My job involves listening to people and addressing their concerns. I want to bring my customer service experience to the Cape Coral City Council.”
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Thomas James Senatore of Cape Coral.
Thomas James Senatore
A Marine Corps veteran who moved to Cape Coral in 2004, Senatore is founder of Bella Casa Services Real Estate. He had highlighted his business experience and involvement in the local real estate market, arguing that those perspectives give him firsthand knowledge of development issues, housing trends and economic growth. Senatore emphasized balancing continued investment with protecting residents from unnecessary financial burdens.”Affordable housing is closely tied to wages and household income,” Senatore, 67, said during the campaign. “To attract young families, teachers, nurses, doctors, first responders and professionals, Cape Coral must create an economy that supports middle- and upper-income jobs.”
Writing In the Know for the USA TODAY Network, Columnist Phil Fernandez (pfernandez@gannett.com) grew up in Southwest Florida and has led Pulitzer Prize-winning efforts. Sign up for our free Breaking Ground growth and development newsletter. Subscribe to our News-Press and Naples Daily News apps.
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Cape Coral council District 1 rundown. Voters choose a pair to advance