The bill has come due to pay for the recall of Karen Woodson and John King. The Lee County Elections Office has sent an invoice for $17,592.54 to the Town of Fort Myers Beach. There are also legal fees being racked up by Woodson and King during the appeals process.

Fort Myers Beach taxpayers must pay the legal fees to defend King and Woodson in the process because the recall allegations against them – which they have denied from the beginning – were made against them while they were sitting council members.

To date, King’s legal bill is nearly $25,000 and Woodson’s is about $45,000. Both were recalled by the voters last month. King was allowed to stay on council when a judge ruled the petition to recall him was invalid. Former Council member Bill Veach is appealing that ruling. The judge also ruled that Woodson’s petition was valid and Woodson is appealing that ruling.

King and Woodson have also filed defamation lawsuits against Veach nd former Mayor Ray Murphy, co-chairs of the recall committee. Legal fees for those lawsuits will not be paid for by taxpayers.

The seats King occupies now and the seat Woodson formerly occupied are both up for election in November of 2026.

Read Karen Woodson’s 55-page appeal HERE.
Read Ray Murphy’s response to Woodson’s appeal HERE.

Read Bill Veach’s appeal to Judge Cohen’s final order HERE.

 








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