City charter amendments pass
With 23 of 26 precincts reporting as of press time, Cape Coral voters overwhelmingly voted “yes” on all three Cape Coral City Charter amendments Tuesday.
The amendments on the Aug. 18 Primary Election ballot clarify when Cape Coral Council choses its mayor pro tem; adds new residency requirements for council members; and requires more proof of residency for candidates eligible to hold office.
The city’s charter is its bedrock governing document. The charter can only be changed by a majority of the city’s voters.
The first ballot question addressed when Cape Coral City Council will vote to appoint a member of council to act as mayor when the mayor is absent.
With the majority of the voters voting yes (74.33%) on this amendment; it will clarify that the new council would elect the mayor pro-tem regardless of whether a special meeting precedes the first regular meeting after the election.
The second changes the required residency for candidates seeking a seat on Cape Coral City Council within their district.
This proposal amends the Cape Coral City Charter to require any Council member candidate be a continuous permanent resident of the District for the entire calendar year immediately preceding their qualification for office, excluding candidates impacted by Section 4.04 of the City Charter, and establishing procedures for complying with the “residency” requirement for a candidate’s permanent legal residency and domicile within the District and City pursuant to the submission of a sworn statement.
The majority of voters voted yes (92.99%) on this amendment, which means candidates will be required to reside within their respective district for one year prior to qualifying to run for Cape Coral City Council. This does not change qualifying for the office of mayor. The mayoral candidates would have to reside in the city, any district, for one year prior to qualifications for the seat.
The third changes how candidates submit proof of residency within their Cape Coral City Council district.
This proposal amends the Cape Coral City Charter to require eligible candidates for the office of Mayor or Council member to submit a sworn statement identifying their permanent legal residency and domicile, affirming that the candidate meets the residency requirements of Section 4.02 of the City’s Charter, and submission of two (2) documents establishing proof of residency pursuant to those acceptable documents set forth within new Section 4.05(c)(2) of the City’s Charter.
The majority of voters voted yes (94.98%) on this amendment, which means candidates will need to provide additional documentation of established residency within their district. To qualify to run for their district seat, they also will have to swear that the permanent legal residency and domicile submitted is accurate.
The counts for three precincts had not been reported as of press time.
Results are unofficial until certified.
To reach Meghan Bradbury, please email news@breezenewspapers.com