Fort Myers Beach witnessed a historic recall election, the first of its kind in Lee County. The results were certified on Friday morning by the Lee County Elections Office.
Rebecca Link was voted to replace Karen Woodson as Fort Myers Beach town councilmember. There was no need for a recount.
Tom Brady, one of the candidates running to replace Woodson, opted out of a recount. According to the elections office’s canvassing board, Brady sent a letter stating he did not want to have a recount, thereby accepting the results. The board certified the results Friday morning.
The voter turnout for this recall election surprised many.
“It was a pretty good turnout for an off-year election when this recall or small election, usually people don’t turn out, but almost 50% turnout, I was kind of surprised myself,” said Tommy Doyle, supervisor of elections in Lee County.
“I think the voters, they wanted to voice their opinion, and they did,” said Doyle.
Leading up to the recall election day, many voiced their opinions on whether to remove Woodson and another town councilmember, John King, for violating Sunshine Laws by accepting gifts from developers. Both denied the accusations, resulting in a defamation lawsuit against former Fort Myers Beach Mayor Ray Murphy and former councilmember Bill Veach.
A Lee County judge previously ruled that the evidence against King was insufficient, allowing him to retain his seat in office pending an appeal to the appeals court.
Morgan Bentley, who represents both King and Woodson, said it’s a waiting game when it comes to these appeals. In the meantime, Woodson will no longer be in office, while King will remain a town councilmember despite the results.