District 2 incumbent Melissa Giovannelli will serve another four years on the Lee County School Board.

Giovannelli, a real estate agent, had the most votes with 12,660, or 56.71% beating her opponent Carol Frantz, a retired radiologic technologist, who received 9,665 votes, or 43.29%.

“I am excited. I appreciate the confidence the community has in me. I will continue to do what I do – holding people accountable and trying to be as transparent as possible,” Giovannelli said. “I am ready to serve four more years. That is what I enlisted to do, and I am ready to do it. I am excited. I look forward to doing four more.”

Giovannelli was first elected in 2016 and reelected in 2020 to the school board. A native of Lee County, she is a graduate of Riverdale High School. She has a Florida Real Estate License from Ed Klopfer of Real Estate and a paralegal certification from Barry University.

District 2 was determined by voters within the district only as was the District 3 race.

Bill Ribble, who worked as a VP of corporate operational development with UPS, appears to have won the District 3 race with 12,307 votes, or 50.38% against his opponent Kaityln Schoeffel, a car dealership and mother, who received 12,120 votes, or 49.62%.

Election results are unofficial until certified.

Vanessa Chaviano and Sheridan Chester had the two highest percentages Tuesday evening.

The district 7 at-large and non-partisan district provides all voters countywide with the opportunity to cast a ballot in the three-way race featuring Chaviano, Chester and Joshua Molandes.

There is a run-off in the General Election if there is no majority winner, 50%+1 vote-getter in the Primary Election.

Chaviano had 47.11%, 45,631 votes, Chester had 31.42%, or 30,432 votes, and Molandes had 21.48%, or 20,807 votes with all the precincts reporting.

Chaviano holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and criminal forensics from Florida Gulf Coast University, a master’s degree in criminal forensics, behavioral analysis from Florida Gulf Coast University and a master’s degree in business administration from Ashford University.

A 25-year resident in Lee County, she works at LIV Digital Marketing in marketing operations. She is a former teacher, school administrator, and coach and currently has two children in the school district.

“I am very excited, proud, and happy for everyone that has supported me,” Chaviano said of those that came out to the Primary Election. “We did everything as far as marketing, door knocking — grassroots efforts. We will continue those grassroot efforts here in the community – keep doing what we have been doing.”

She said obviously it continues into November.

“Hopefully, everyone comes out in November. Every voice matters – making sure every voice is heard, and everyone is accounted for. I’m looking forward to serving them on the school board,” Chaviano said.

Chester received an AA degree from CUNY, Borough of Manhattan Community College, a bachelor’s from John Jay College of criminal justice, as well as certified recovery peer specialist.

Also, a 25-year resident of Lee County, Chester has been a substitute teacher for the Lee County School District. The top three issues include salaries, hire and retention of qualified teachers and safety.

She could not be reached for comment.