Election 2026 | Question of the Week 3, District 4 (General Election only)
Cape Coral City Council races are non-partisan races. Council members qualify in their respective districts but are elected at-large. This means all registered city voters may cast a ballot in each race regardless of where they live and the party to which they are affiliated, if any. This year’s Primary, on Aug. 18, features three Cape Coral City Council races: Mayor and the seats for District 1 and 6. District 4, with only two candidates, will be on the Nov. 3 General Election ballot.
Question of the Week: Should the city work to resolve the lease situation with the Cape Coral Rowing Club? If so, what do you propose??
The following candidates are running for Cape Coral City Council set for District 4: (This race will appear on the Nov. 3 General Election ballot only:
• Jennifer Nelson-Lastra (I)
Yes. As a Councilmember, I believe our role is to solve problems, not create unnecessary barriers for organizations serving our community. Youth sports shape kids by teaching teamwork, discipline, commitment, and resilience, and the Cape Coral Rowing Club has provided those opportunities for many local families. I support working collaboratively to resolve the lease situation through open communication, clear expectations, and accountability on all sides. My approach has always been to bring people together, protect taxpayer interests, and find practical solutions that preserve community assets and keep opportunities available for our youth.
• James Vargas
Yes. The city should work to resolve the lease situation with the Cape Coral Rowing Club.
This issue is about accountability and honoring commitments. Tropicana Park was planned with the rowing club in mind, and the city invested approximately 500k in a rowing dock. Taxpayers have already made that investment, but today the dock sits mostly unused. If the facility was built for rowing, we should allow the rowing club to use it while continuing to address any reasonable operational concerns. Supporting youth programs, respecting taxpayer dollars, and keeping our commitments should all point to the same conclusion “let them row.”