Each week through the General Election, The Breeze will ask the candidates for Cape Coral City Council an issue-related question. In the interest of fairness, each candidate is limited to the same amount of space, about 100 words, for their response. This week’s Question of the Week is:

As an individual representative, how will you communicate with, and gather input from, Cape Coral residents, businesses and property owners?

The 2022 municipal election for Cape Coral City Council features four races — the seats for mayor and Districts 1, 4 and 6. While candidates must live in the district they seek to represent, Cape Coral City Council races are non-partisan, citywide races, meaning every registered Cape voter, no matter their party affiliation or city address, may cast a ballot in every race.

Here are this week’s responses:

MAYOR

• John Gunter, incumbent

I have had the honor and privilege to serve my community as an elected official since 2017. I have been constantly engaged in our community with many organizations or events throughout our city while being readily available to communicate with my constituents on a weekly basis. I purposely attend many events in our community not only to participate in the event but also to discuss any concerns or issues that our residents may have. I am extremely confident to say that I have been the most visible and most engaged elected official in our city for the last five years while serving our community.

Community engagement is an essential ingredient needed to be a successful elected official. I have a proven record of being extremely engaged in our community and I will continue that practice for the next four years while serving as your Mayor.

Website: votejohngunter.com

• Tom Shadrach

As an elected official, I will use the city website to communicate what the city is working on for the residents. I will use our communications team to send out questions and surveys to residents and businesses concerning issue that directly affect them. Unfortunately, I see the council making decisions based on their personal beliefs without consideration to what the voters think other than during an election year. I will have an open door policy and be available to all residents by email, phone and at City Hall. I plan to work full time as mayor.

Website: shadrachformayor.com

DISTRICT 1

• Dr. Carol Rae Culliton

Being extremely active in the community, I am very approachable and easy to contact. I attend nearly every public event or function in the city. I live here, I work here, I play here, my family is here. There are two areas of Cape Coral that can be called the heart and soul of the Cape. One is the Hospitality District and the other is the Yacht Club. And they are both in District 1. I live in the yacht cub area and often have people stop by or approach me around the beach, marina and ball room area. My business is in the Hospitality District and, again, many residents stop by and share their thoughts, issues, likes and dislikes and concerns. I intent to make myself even more visible and approachable to all the residents of Cape Coral.

Website: CullitonforCapeCoral.com

• Bill Steinke

I truly enjoy sharing time and discussing issues with our community! From the time I filed to run, I’ve promoted ways to communicate with me via email, social media, text and phone and that has been effective to date — that will continue. I am very socially active, attending events at every opportunity. I wear a name tag constantly, so that anyone wanting to discuss anything on their mind can recognize me. I have regularly been stopped in restaurants, retail stores and outdoor gatherings over the last several months to do just that. I have envisioned conducting old school “town hall” events periodically to keep our citizens informed of current events and issues being dealt with at the City level and will be open and looking forward to input from our citizens, for the most effective way to stay connected with City Government in the future!

Website: www.BillSteinke.com

DISTRICT 4

• Patty Cummings

It’s very important to keep relationships open and keep people informed and involved. I will keep my office door open as well as the phone lines, social media outlets, email and town hall meetings. I will be accessible to the residents, businesses and the property owners.

In the past city council was accessible to the residents.

City staff has added a level of filters to reach your council person, this is not what I attend to do. My city phone number will be posted on the city website and it will ring directly to me. It’s very important as a city council member to always have open communication to the citizens, that’s why council is voted in for the people. City Council works for the citizens of Cape Coral.

Website: www.votepattycummings.com

• Jennifer I. Nelson, incumbent

Engaging with the community is a vital piece to understanding our needs and celebrating our success. I attend community events and meetings regularly where I always encourage constituents to reach out to me via email and phone. I also encourage in person meetings when appropriate. Should I become re-elected, I look forward to setting up social media pages dedicated to my council position in the future.

Website: jenn4capecoral.com

DISTRICT 6

• Wayne Hecht

There is a need for better communication between city council members and our residents. I will continue to communicate important issues via my website, multiple social media formats and will continue to make a point to talk with residents at local events and gatherings. I am and will always be available for residents via email, text, and my cell phone. I will hold “town hall” meetings to keep residents informed of important topics affecting them and our community and will listen to them as well.

Website: waynehecht.com

• Keith Long, incumbent

The method is simple–be present. In order to interact with our community we need to be an active part of it. Community engagement is a critical component of being an elected official. During my time on Council, I have made great effort to attend as many events as possible in our community–which are great opportunities to closely interact with residents and business owners on an individual basis to gather their input, good or bad. This type of engagement is where you are able to understand the more micro issues that may be affecting one resident specifically that you otherwise would have no information of. Addressing these issues for residents is one of the most rewarding aspects of this position.

Website: https://www.votekeithlong.com