Cape Coral voters winnowed the field in Tuesday\u2019s primary but are looking at three Cape Coral City Council run-offs in November along with the head-to-head race for District 4.<\/p>\n
Mayor\u2019s race<\/p>\n
\u00a0Mayor John Gunter failed to clear the primary Tuesday, setting the stage for a runoff between two political newcomers.<\/p>\n
\u00a0The top vote getters in the six-candidate mayoral race were Rick Erickson, 63, and Lisa Cohen-Adkinson, 46. They received 11,663 votes, or 32.22%, and 8,907 votes, or 24.61%, respectively.<\/p>\n
Erickson is a retired 32-year veteran who served in US Army Components and retiring as a Special Forces Sergeant Major.\u00a0He is the founder at SaveOurVet.org and Norseman Ops., LLC. <\/p>\n
Lisa Cohen-Adkinson, 46, broker-owner of Valor Property Management and Valor Real Estate Services, Inc.<\/p>\n
Erickson said the outcome of the election reflects a growing desire among residents for accountable leadership focused on taxpayers rather than political insiders and special interests.<\/p>\n
\u201cTonight\u2019s victory belongs to the people of Cape Coral,\u201d Erickson said in a \u201cthank you Cape Coral\u201d statement issued after the primary results posted. \u201cI am deeply humbled by the confidence voters have placed in me, and I want to sincerely thank every resident who supported our campaign. I am especially grateful to the countless volunteers, donors, and supporters who spent months knocking on doors, making phone calls, displaying yard signs, attending events, and sharing our message throughout the community. This victory would not have been possible without your dedication and belief in our vision for Cape Coral.\u201d<\/p>\n
He added that Tuesday\u2019s results also send a broader message about the direction residents want for Cape Coral.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt demonstrates that Cape Coral has rejected the realtor, developer, and career politician class that has controlled City Hall for far too long,\u201d Erickson said. \u201cThe people are ready for leadership that puts residents first, protects our neighborhoods, keeps our families safe, and reins in government to its original purpose of serving the people rather than special interests.\u201d<\/p>\n
He\u2019s planning a concerted campaign.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe work is far from over,\u201d Erickson said. \u201cIn many ways, it begins today. We will continue earning every vote and building a coalition of residents who believe our city deserves honest, transparent, fiscally responsible leadership. Together, we are going to take back Cape Coral for its residents and restore respect, accountability, and common sense to City Hall.\u201d<\/p>\n
He will continue to stress a platform that advocates for responsible growth, fiscal discipline, public safety, infrastructure that keeps pace with development, and a city government that remains transparent and accountable to taxpayers, he said.<\/p>\n
Cohen-Adkinson is also looking to the General Election.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u201cI\u2019m honored and energized,\u201d Cohen-Adkinson said. \u201cWe finished second out of six candidates and secured our spot in the General Election, and we did it in approximately 75 days. To put that in perspective, the frontrunner has been campaigning for nearly a year and only outpaced us by seven points. I don\u2019t say that to diminish anyone\u2019s efforts, I say it because it shows how much momentum this message has behind it in a fraction of the time. Since the results came in last night, I\u2019ve already been on the phone with local, multi-county, and state leaders, this race clearly has attention well beyond Cape Coral, and I intend to make the most of that.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0She thanks the voters, as they showed up, listened, and gave what she said is a real shot at bringing accountability back to Cape Coral.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u201cMy message going forward is simple \u2014 and it\u2019s the only one that matters to me right now \u2014 residents need to be heard and respected, not threatened with lawsuits, and not left facing debilitating expenses while families are already struggling to put food on the table because of the overspending this administration has placed on our community,\u201d Cohen-Adkinson said. \u201cThat ends under my leadership.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0Her focus will not change heading into the General Election though it will sharpen.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u201cI\u2019ve spent over 15 years as a watchdog for this community, and that work continues every single day between now and November. I\u2019m going to keep building on our solution-based plan: one that keeps Cape Coral running well, creates real jobs for our residents, and lowers taxes, without leaning on grants as a crutch,\u201d Cohen-Adkinson said. \u201cThis plan is about self-sufficiency for our community, not dependency.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0She said her campaign is about taking Cape Coral back for the people who live here.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u201cWe are solutions-focused, not politics as usual. People matter more than politics, more than special interests, and more than empty promises,\u201d Cohen-Adkinson said. \u201cI\u2019m ready to earn every vote between now and the General Election in November.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0Gunter, Gulf Coast Premier Homes, Inc. president, received 5,428 votes, or 15%; Kara Rogers, 39, attorney and founding partner of Powers & Rogers, PLLC, received 5,092 votes, or 14.07%; Dan Sheppard, 63, is the owner\/operator of Palm Source Pine Island LLC, Sheppard Landscape, Inc, and Island Time Village, received 2,913 votes, or 8.05% and Richard Leon, 39, Cape Coral Kiwanis Foundation Operations Manager, received 2,193 votes, or 8.05%. \u00a0votes.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
District 1<\/p>\n
\u00a0The top vote getters in the four-candidate primary for District 1 were Tom Shadrach, 67, who is retired from program management with The Boeing Company and Dave Newton, 54, who is a United States Air Force veteran and retired law enforcement officer. <\/p>\n
They received 11,786 votes, or 35.54%, and 9,811, or 29.54% respectively and will advance to the Nov. 3 General Election.<\/p>\n
\u00a0Shadrach thanks the voters for coming out to vote and making their voices heard. He said he is very happy and humbled by the positive results of the election.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u201cI think the voters sent a message for change with the mayor race,\u201d Shadrach said. \u201cIt shows that change can happen with elections.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0His focus will be suggesting more improvements and resolutions that can be implemented or discussed before the November election, as he has \u201cmade an influence with the current council with exposing the Slush Funds.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u201cI plan to continue to work on solutions for the residents,\u201d Shadrach said, \u201cto keep Cape Coral affordable and promote making decisions based on common sense, facts, and financial analysis.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0Newton said he believes the election results reflect the voice of the people and who they would like to represent them moving forward.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u201cNow I hope we can come together as a community, become more united, put the woes of the past behind us, and focus on what we can accomplish together. Cape Coral has an incredible future ahead of it, and I believe that when we work together, we can do great things for our city and its residents,\u201d Newton said.<\/p>\n
\u00a0He said he is incredibly grateful and humbled to have received the support and earn the opportunity to move forward to the General Election.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u201cI have tremendous respect for the voters of Cape Coral, and I want to thank everyone who took the time to vote and participate in this election,\u201d Newton said. \u201cIt makes me proud to see people exercise their right to vote because it is one of the most important freedoms we have. One that my fellow veterans and so many before us have fought and sacrificed to protect.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0His focus will remain the same \u2013 listening to the people and understanding their concerns.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u201cThe people are counting on their elected officials to be their voice, and that is a responsibility I will always put first. I want to continue meeting with residents, hearing their ideas and concerns. I want to reassure them that I will have an open-door policy and will always be a voice for them,\u201d Newton said.<\/p>\n
\u00a0He wishes everyone the best of luck as they continue to campaign and hope they can all move forward with grace, respect, and understanding.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u201cAs candidates, we should always keep our focus on the people we are asking to represent and the good we can accomplish for them,\u201d Newton said. \u201cI hope and pray that we can put the past behind us, come together as a community, and work toward the betterment of Cape Coral. At the end of the day, we all want the same thing \u2013 a stronger, safer, and better city for our residents.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0Sean Hartman, 35, who works in customer service at Lee Health, received 6,792 votes, or 20.48% and Thomas J. Senatore, 67, who is retired, but still acts as broker of record and owner for Bella Basa Services LLC, received 4,774 votes or 14.40%.<\/p>\n
\u00a0The incumbent, Councilmember Bill Steinke, did not seek re-election.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
District 6<\/p>\n
\u00a0Top vote getters Liza King, 51, a chief deputy court administrator for the State of Florida, and Annette Warren, 48, a merchant consultant for Priority Business Solutions, emerged in the five-way race for District 6 to advance to the Nov. 3 General Election. They received 9,570 votes, or 28.79%, and 8,817 votes, or 26.52% respectively.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u201cI\u2019m incredibly grateful,\u201d King said after the results came in. \u201cTonight\u2019s results reflect the hard work of our team, our volunteers, our supporters, and most importantly, the voters who put their trust in me. I\u2019m humbled by that support, but I also know tonight is not the finish line. It\u2019s the beginning of the next phase, and I\u2019m ready to get back to work.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0She thanked the voters.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u201cWhether you voted for me tonight or supported another candidate, I want you to know that I respect your voice. I\u2019m asking for the opportunity to represent you and to be a council member who listens, works hard, and puts our community first. I love this city, and I\u2019m committed to helping protect what makes it special while preparing responsibly for its future,\u201d King said.<\/p>\n
\u00a0She said her focus remains on meeting with residents, listening to their concerns, and talking about the issues that affect their everyday lives.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u201cThat means keeping our city financially responsible, protecting taxpayers, prioritizing public safety, managing growth responsibly, and making sure the city delivers the services residents expect. I want to earn every vote in November and not take a single one for granted,\u201d King said.<\/p>\n
\u00a0She said she has spent her life in the community and understands how much Cape Coral means to those who call it home.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u201cThis campaign has never been about a title for me, it\u2019s about service. I\u2019m thankful for everyone who has encouraged me, volunteered, put up a sign, made a phone call, shared our message, or cast a vote. Tonight, we celebrate, but tomorrow we get right back to work. I\u2019m excited about November and about the opportunity to continue earning the trust of the people of Cape Coral,\u201d King said.<\/p>\n
\u00a0Warren said she was truly humbled and grateful for the support she received from voters across Cape Coral.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u201cI want to thank everyone who took the time to vote, everyone who supported our campaign, and the volunteers, friends, and family who have worked so hard alongside me. Advancing from a five-candidate primary is something I do not take for granted,\u201d she said. \u201cI am honored that so many residents placed their trust in me, and I understand that with that trust comes a great responsibility.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0Warren thanks the voters.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhether you voted for me or supported another candidate in the primary, I respect your participation in our local elections,\u201d she said. \u201cTo those who supported me, I am incredibly grateful for your confidence in me. To those who supported one of the other candidate, I hope to earn your vote in the General Election. My door is open, and I want to hear your ideas, concerns, and hopes for Cape Coral. If elected, I will represent the entire community \u2013 not just the people who voted for me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Now that the Primary Election is behind her, the real work begins, she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy focus will be on continuing to meet with residents, listening to their concerns, and earning the trust of voters throughout Cape Coral. This will be a difficult and competitive race, but I am looking forward to a clean, respectful campaign focused on the issues that matter to our community. Residents deserve a conversation about the future of Cape Coral and how we can keep our city a great place to live, work, raise a family, and retire,\u201d Warren said.<\/p>\n
She congratulates all of the candidates who stepped forward to serve the community.<\/p>\n
\u201cRunning for public office requires a tremendous commitment, and each candidate and their supporters contributed to the conversation about Cape Coral\u2019s future,\u201d Warren said. \u201cAs we move into the General Election, I hope we can have a positive campaign based on ideas, experience, and solutions. I am excited to continue talking with residents and working hard every day to earn their trust and their vote.\u201d<\/p>\n
Joe Angrisano, 73, who formerly worked for Herb Chamber Companies and LocatePlus as the digital marketing, social media marketing, and reputation manager, received 6,008 votes, or 18.07%; Ray Mule, 64, who is retired, received 5,520 votes, or 16.60%; Jeffrey Huddleston, 61, who is self-employed working for Uber and part-time pizza delivery, received 3,329 votes or 10.01% votes.<\/p>\n
\u00a0Incumbent Keith Long did not seek re-election.<\/p>\n
\u00a0These are non-partisan, at-large races meaning all Cape Coral voters can cast a ballot in the General Election in each race.<\/p>\n
\u00a0The Nov. 3 General Election also will feature the District 4 contest between incumbent Jennifer Nelson-Lastra and James Vargas.<\/p>\n
\u00a0As there were only two candidates seeking \u00a0the District 4 seat, this race was not on the primary ballot.<\/p>\n