The Aug. 23 Primary ballot will include a Republican Primary race for the Lee County Commission seat held by Commissioner Frank Mann. Mann’s recent passing left a vacancy, and there are three candidates in the closed Republican primary — John Albion, Joseph Robert Gambino and Mike Greenwell.

The winner of the primary will face Democrat Matthew “Matt” Wood and Angela R. Chenaille, who qualified as a write-in, in the General Election in November.

John Albion

Candidate name: John Albion

Seat sought/district or at large: Lee County Commission, District 5

John Albion

Age: 59

Website: electjohnalbion.com

Education/degrees: Graduate of The Centre College in Kentucky with a B.A. in Government and a minor in English. Occupation and place of employment:

Cushman & Wakefield | Commercial Property Southwest Florida as a director

Time in the district in which you are running/years of residency:

Joseph Robert Gambino

Moved to Lee County in 1984 and will be moving to the district.

Business experience applicable to the office you are seeking:

Cushman & Wakefield | Commercial Property Southwest Florida, Director (Real Estate Broker) 2013-Present

Lee County Commissioner for District 5 from 1992-2006.

After leaving public office, went on to serve as the executive director for the Fort Myers Beach Area Chamber of Commerce.

Mike Greenwell

Joined Cushman & Wakefield | Commercial Property Southwest Florida as a director in 2013 where he continues to service clients today.

Political Experience/Offices held:

In November of 1992, elected to the Lee County Commission serving District 5. Served for 14 years until 2006. While in office, was tasked with many leadership assignments including chairman of the County Commission three times; chairman of the Lee County Port Authority for 14 years, chairman and Treasurer of the Regional Planning Council; Smart Growth Task Force member; Commissioner Liaison for Economic Development; chairman of the Tourist Development Council and more.

Question 1: Why are you running?

To improve the quality of life for all Lee County Citizens.

Question 2: Planks of your platform.

Low Taxes

Water Quality

Transportation

Quality of Life

Veterans

Question 3: Top three issues.

Low Taxes

We worked very effectively to keep a low county government millage rate.

My promise to you is we will do it again – together.

Transportation

My signature achievement is when I led the effort to bring $20 million in federal money through a National Demonstration Project where we lowered tolls during off-peak hours on our toll bridges.

Quality of Life

We must balance growth with our environment. I will work diligently for a prepared workforce so our children can afford to live here.

We live here also to enjoy our special environment. The importance of flow ways, environmental systems, habitat, and clean water is an important part of this balance.

I was directly involved in bringing over $40 million for roads, and over $10 million in grants for purchasing environmentally sensitive land.

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Joseph Robert Gambino

Candidate name: Joseph Robert Gambino

Seat sought/district or at large: Lee County Commissioner District 5

Age:  42

Website: none

Education/degrees:

Doctor of Chiropractic

New York Chiropractic College

Executive MBA Business Management

Doling College

B.S. Psychology

Stony Brook University

Occupation and place of employment: 

Chiropractor 

Joseph Gambino DC PC

Licensed in Florida and New York

Major Coinage Holdings

Land Acquisition Company and Construction of single-family housing only in Lee County.

Time in the district in which you are running/years of residency:

2 years

Business experience applicable to the office you are seeking:

17 years Doctor of Chiropractic addressing Various musculoskeletal injuries and helping thousands of patients get out of pain and improve their quality of life

10 years executive experience in managing a multi-disciplinary clinic grossing over $1 million a year that included supervision of 5-7 employees, financial management, advertising, marketing and community engagement.

Political Experience/offices held: 

none

Question 1: Why are you running? 

I am running because I believe I am the best person for the job. I understand the needs of the residents of Lee County, and I am willing to work hard. I won’t be one of these elected officials that get elected then disappear until its election time again.  I will be visible in the community and stay engaged. I want to keep taxes low, maintain our quality of life and provide more community engagement among the county government. Lee County is growing fast and I will work hard to ensure that we have smart growth and not overgrowth. I have no special interests or hidden agendas will work full time for the residents and no looking to retire for a long time.

Question 2: Planks of your platform. 

Promote local small businesses

Increase inter-department capacity by hiring more staff

Keeping up with infrastructure projects.

Maintaining our rural areas of Lee County

Form Local Sub-Committees

No tax increases

Question 3: Top three issues. 

1) Overgrowth and Overdevelopment

2) Interdepartmental efficiently within the county government

3) Community Outreach/ Community Engagement

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Mike Greenwell

Candidate name: Michael Lewis Greenwell

Seat sought/district: Lee County Commission District 5

Age: 58

Website: Mikegreenwell.com

Education/degrees:

Occupation and place of employment:

Professional Baseball Player – Retired 15 years

Previous Owner Mike Greenwell Fun Park – 28 Years

Owner, 31 Produce, 31 Years

Big League Builders – Director – 5 Years

Time in the district in which you are running/years of residency:

32 Years

Business experience applicable to the office you are seeking:

Managed Major League Contract Negotiations

Multiple Business Owner Managing Contracts, Personnel, Schedules, and Costs.

Political Experience/offices held:

None

Question 1: Why are you running?

I have spent the majority of my life in the Lee County community. I have raised my children here and now they are raising their children here. I have witnessed the tremendous growth in our area along with times of extreme challenges. My experiences building and operating multiple businesses in the county provide me with the knowledge and skillset to help our county grow our in a positive way

Question 2: Planks of your platform.

• Better Infrastructure

• Cost conscience budget management

• Lower Taxes

Question 3: Top three issues.

a. Infrastructure and road systems need to catch up to the demands of our growing community.

b. Affordable housing for our growing workforce and new residents

c. Workforce shortage for our excising businesses.

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