Fort Myers Mayor Kevin Anderson listens to public comment during a Fort Myers City Council meeting on Monday, Oct. 5, 2026. Several speakers including the The Lee County branch of the NAACP were calling for an investigation and his resignation on claims of sexual misconduct by young men.
Andrew West/Fort Myers News-Pres
USA TODAY Network, Reuters
Fort Myers Mayor Kevin Anderson has stepped down from four prominent nonprofit and civic boards in recent weeks as he faces growing scrutiny over sexual misconduct allegations made by two young men.
Since mid-September, Anderson has resigned from the Florida Gulf Coast University Alumni Association Board of Directors, Valerie’s House Board of Directors, the Foundation for Lee County Public Schools Board of Directors and the United Way of Lee, Hendry and Glades Board of Directors.
The board resignations come after the two men accused the mayor of sexual misconduct. In September, 23-year-old Kagan Vann and 18-year-old FGCU student Dominic Hendricks publicly accused Anderson of soliciting them for sex during separate interactions in downtown Fort Myers. Anderson denies the allegations and has repeatedly maintained that his interactions with both men were appropriate and consistent with his decades of public service.
Which boards has the Fort Myers mayor left?
FGCU confirmed that Anderson resigned from the Alumni Association Board of Directors Sept. 17. After his resignation, the university removed his name and headshot from the board’s website.
“He resigned September 17,” FGCU spokesperson Pamela McCabe said in an email. “It is university practice to maintain current information across our websites and materials.”
Anderson graduated from FGCU in 2003 with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and received the university’s Alumnus of Distinction Award in 2024.
Valerie’s House, a local nonprofit that provides grief support for children and families, confirmed Anderson resigned from its Board of Directors Sept. 18.
“Mayor Anderson voluntarily resigned from the Board of Directors Friday, September 18,” communications manager Justin LaVerdiere told The News-Press & Naples Daily News.
The Foundation for Lee County Public Schools accepted Anderson’s resignation Sept. 30.
“The Foundation for Lee County Public Schools Board accepted Kevin Anderson’s resignation on Wednesday, September 30, 2026,” Board Chair Noelle Branning said in a statement. “We thank Mayor Anderson for his service to the Board and for his support of the Foundation during his tenure.”
Anderson also served as a volunteer mentor through the foundation’s Take Stock in Children program.
United Way confirmed Tuesday, Oct. 6 that Anderson resigned from its Board of Directors.
“We appreciate his service and support of our organization during his time on the board,” the organization said in a statement.
Barbara’s Friends, a Lee Health Foundation fund that supports children and families facing cancer and blood disorders at Golisano Children’s Hospital, said its advisory board has been inactive for several years, meaning Anderson does not currently hold an active position there.
Anderson previously served on the Horizon Council Executive Committee representing Fort Myers. The Horizon Council is a public-private advisory board that makes recommendations to the Lee County Board of County Commissioners on economic development, business recruitment, workforce issues and job creation. According to the 2026 roster of Horizon Council voting members, the City of Fort Myers is currently represented by Fort Myers councilwoman Diana Giraldo. A county spokesperson confirmed to The News-Press & Naples Daily News that Giraldo is the city’s current representative.
City scrubs departed boards in mayor’s bio
The Horizon Council is among several local affiliations recently removed from Anderson’s official biography on the City of Fort Myers website.
A previous version of the mayor’s biography on the city website stated that Anderson served on the boards of Valerie’s House, United Way of Lee, Hendry and Glades Counties, the Foundation for Lee County Public Schools and Barbara’s Friends, while also mentoring students through Take Stock in Children and serving on the Horizon Council advisory board.
The updated biography removes all of those affiliations, leaving Premier Mobile Health Services as the only local nonprofit board listed on the mayor’s official webpage. His brief biography still notes his involvement with the Florida League of Mayors, Florida League of Cities, Southwest Florida League of Cities and the Hurricane Ian Recovery Task Force, as well as his 2024 Florida Gulf Coast University Alumnus of Distinction recognition.
Anderson hasn’t left all boards
Not all of Anderson’s affiliations have changed.
Premier Mobile Health Services, a local nonprofit healthcare provider, said Anderson remains chairman of its board.
“There’s no change in his board status,” Chief Operating Officer Jim Zache said.
Anderson also remains mayor of Fort Myers and continues his reelection campaign. He faces challenger Amber Ware in the general election Nov. 3.
Why do the resignations matter?
The board resignations follow weeks of controversy surrounding allegations raised by Vann and Hendricks.
Vann alleges Anderson propositioned him when they met for drinks at 10 Twenty-Five in downtown Fort Myers November 2024. Vann’s incident was investigated by police. Both city Police Chief Jason Fields and Anderson say that the investigation was handed off to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Anderson says he was not questioned either by FMPD or the FDLE. The News-Press has requested a copy of the FDLE report from that agency and from FMPD.
Hendricks alleges Anderson made sexually explicit comments and propositions during a Fourth of July celebration this year.
The allegations have sparked protests outside City Hall, repeated calls for Anderson’s resignation and demands for an investigation.
Anderson has denied wrongdoing and has described his interactions with both men as routine attempts to be accessible and helpful to citizens seeking “advice, guidance or assistance.”
“I just want to be clear that these allegations being made are completely false,” Anderson said. “These exchanges are being taken out of context and being used to create a false narrative. I have always made myself available to the public even when they were critical of me, and I will continue to do so.”
Mickenzie Hannon is a watchdog reporter for The News-Press and Naples Daily News, covering Collier and Lee counties. Contact her at 239-435-3423 or mhannon@gannett.com.
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This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Fort Myers Mayor Anderson resigns from local boards amid allegations
Reporting by Mickenzie Hannon, Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News / Naples Daily News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
Copyright Reuters or USA Today Network via Reuters Connect
This story was originally published October 10, 2026 at 10:42 AM.