With mail, early voting and most precincts reporting, Cape Council races show front-runners
With 23 out of 26 Cape Coral precincts counted and mail and early voting tallies in, front-runners emerged in the races for the Cape Coral City Council.
In the race for mayor, candidate Rick Erickson had the lead at 52% at 8:10 p.m.
Erickson led with a total of 37,934 votes, or 52%, and Lisa Cohen-Adkinson had 35,022, or 48% of the votes.
Incumbent John Gunter lost in the primary, receiving only 15% of the vote, placing him third out of the six candidates vying for the seat.
During his last city council meeting Monday night, Gunter said it was a privilege and honor serving the city for the last nine years. He said one of the things he always tried to do was make the city of Cape Coral better.
“No matter who sits in the chairs, the best interest is for the residents and the betterment of the community,” Gunter said. “I enjoyed working with staff. They were always helpful once you learned how to specifically ask the questions. They were always there to help us. I want to thank staff and the new council coming in. I want to wish them well and I hope that the citizens of Cape Coral get what they are looking for. I wish them all the luck.”
DISTRICT 1
Dave Newton took the lead with 52.98%, or 35,791 votes, and Tom Shadrach had 47.02%, or 31,769 votes.
Councilmember Bill Steinke did not seek re-election.
DISTRICT 4
Incumbent Jennifer Nelson-Lastra was in the lead with 36,904 votes, or 54.49% of the votes, and James Vargas had 45.51%, or 30,817 votes.
DISTRICT 6
Annette Warren had the lead with 33,865 votes, or 50.54%, and Liza King had 33,145 votes, or 49.46%.
Keith Long did not seek re-election.
This article will be updated online at capecoralbreeze.com when all of the results are in.
Elections results are not final until certified.
To reach MEGHAN BRADBURY, please email mbradbury@breezenewspapers.com