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Carr appointed to fill vacant District 4 seat

By MEGHAN BRADBURY - | Dec 14, 2023

Councilmember Richard Carr , District 4 Cape Coral City Council seat.

A 30-year resident of Cape Coral with a background in public administration and law enforcement took the oath of office for the District 4 seat Wednesday night.

After receiving four nominating votes in the first round of Cape Coral City Council voting, Richard Carr received a unanimous 7-0 vote to fill the vacant seat until suspended council member Patty Cummings is reinstated or until the General Election in 2024.

“Thank you fellow city council members. I have been sworn in a few different times over my career and this one was different from all the rest; not sure why,” he said during his appearance before council, which interviewed 13 applicants at Wednesday’s meeting. “I feel very impacted this evening with the decision you all made and the trust you have given me. I won’t let you down.”

Carr also spoke to the citizens.

“I look forward to gaining your trust. I hope over my 11 months serving as your city council member in District 4, I can do that,” he said.

He told the citizens that he will make himself as available as he can while being open and forthright.

“I am very humbled by tonight’s decision. More humbled than I can express. I look forward to working and moving forward,” Carr said.

Carr works for Palm Paradise Real Estate in Fort Myers as a Realtor and sales representative.

His resume also includes being a director with the School District of Lee County from 2021-2022 where he led the professional standards department; City of Cape Coral division management where he oversaw code compliance from 2015-2021; an assistant chief for the city of Naples Police Department from 2012-2015 and city of Fort Myers Police Department captain from 1990-2012.

He attended Barry University Miami Shores in 1995 and earned a bachelor’s degree for public administration, Florida Southwestern (Edison College) in 1992 where he earned an A.S. in criminal justice and FBI National Academy 248 Session in 2012 where he earned a certificate in leadership.

In his Nov. 21 letter of interest to the city council he said “I am writing to express my sincere and vested interest in being appointed as the City Council member for District 4. As a proud 30-year resident of Cape Coral, my deep connection to the community fuels my passion for contributing to its growth and well-being.”

All the members of Council welcomed Carr to the team.

“Welcome Councilmember Carr. I look forward to working with you. I appreciate your willingness to step up and serve our community as well.” Mayor John Gunter said.

Because there are three years remaining in Cummings’ term, the appointment of an interim District 4 rep is effective until Cummings is reinstated by Gov. Ron DeSantis or through the General Election in November 2024.

DeSantis suspended Cummings following her arrest on three felony counts alleging she falsified her residency within District 4 when she qualified to run for the seat and was subsequently sworn into office. Cummings has been charged with fraudulent application for driver license and two counts of false swearing in connection with or arising out of voting or elections, allegations she has steadfastly denied.

The incumbent Cummings narrowly beat, Jennifer Nelson, was among the applicants for the interim post. She was one of three applicants to receive one nomination vote from a council member in the first round of voting Wednesday night.