Cape Coral voters have determined the Cape Coral City Council faceoffs for the General Election on Nov. 5.

Advancing in District 2 are Laurie Lehmann and incumbent Dan Sheppard; in District 3 advancing are Derrick Donnell and Deborah Lee McCormick; in District 4 Jennifer Nelson and incumbent Richard Carr advance; and in District 5, Charlie Pease and Joseph Kilraine will face off, edging out incumbent Robert Welsh.

Two finalists in each of the four races now advance to the General Election, as the field was narrowed down ahead of November’s slate.

The District 7 race, with two candidates, will appear on the General Election ballot.

District 2

Lehmann was the top vote-getter in the Primary for District 2, receiving 10,789 votes (40.81%), Sheppard was second with 8,608 votes (32.56%), and Craig Unroe finished third with 7,038 votes (26.62%).

“I worked hard before, but now I’m going to be working even harder,” Lehmann said. “Now the real work starts. Not to say I didn’t work hard before, I was out talking to our residents all the time. I went to (local stores) and walked up and down the aisle and talked to everybody that was there. I wanted people to know who I was. I’ve been going to council meetings since 2022, and speaking at council meetings on behalf of the citizens. And now, if I am successful in November, I can fight for the citizens on the dais. I want the citizens heard and not discounted. Which is what I think has been happening. If I’m on the dais, I can truly fight for the citizens.”

Sheppard told The Breeze, “I’m thankful that the citizens are supporting me. I think that I do the right thing and move the city forward. That’s what I plan on continuing to do.”

District 3

Donnell was the leading vote-getter in District 3, with 8,409 votes (32.27%), with McCormick finishing second with 7,757 votes (29.76%). Daniel Ludlow received the third-most votes with 5,386 (20.67%), and Chad Bruening fourth with 4,509 votes (17.30%).

“I’m very thankful to all of the voters that had to forge the weather today, and I’m thankful they put their trust and confidence in me to move onto the next phase,” Donnell told The Breeze. “I’m always thankful to God for his many blessings. But the work is not done. I have to work even harder, and I’m going to work even harder, to appeal to those that voted for candidates that did not move through, because we are a community of many different voices.”

McCormick told The Breeze, “I’m incredibly thankful to God, my family, and everyone who has assisted me on this campaign. These past several months, I’ve told my story as a 50-year resident, civil servant, grandmother, mother, and Christian. I was clear on my background, and what I wanted to do for this city. The voters chose myself and Mr. Donnell to be the candidates for District 3, and I wish the best of luck to him in this campaign. Going into November, I want voters to know that I’m one of them. I’m a citizen who wants to see her city thrive. Let’s rescind the stipend, restore citizen boards, protect Jaycee Park, and make life more affordable for our citizens by making government more efficient.”

District 4

Nelson, a former District 4 council member, was the top vote-getter in the district, with 9,089 votes (34.40%). Carr was second with 6,833 votes (25.86%). William Matthews finished third with 6,013 votes (22.76%), and Robert Sutter fourth with 4,484 votes (16.97%).

“I am so incredibly grateful that my city and our residents still support me,” Nelson said. “I am grateful that our residents still believe and trust in me. I’m grateful for the endorsements I’ve received thus far, because that shows trust as well. My hope is that, moving forward to the General Election, I can continue to receive our residents’ and community’s trust and help, and be victorious to get our city back on track.”

Incumbent Richard Carr told The Breeze, “I am honored to have received enough support from our residents to advance to the general election. I want to thank the other candidates for their participation in the campaign; I’ve appreciated their insight and commitment to our city. I will work hard to earn the confidence and votes of those I didn’t reach in the primary. I am eager to continue representing our city as the District 4 council member and to help guide our growing community forward.”

District 5

In District 5, the top vote-getter was Pease with 9,004 (34.61%), a narrow margin over the second-place finisher, Kilraine, who received 8,468 (32.55%). Incumbent Welsh finished third with 5,674 votes (21.81%), while Jason Conzelman was fourth receiving 2,869 votes (11.03%).

Kilraine told The Breeze, “I’m very appreciative to the voters. Happy to be in such a good race, and I look forward to the General Election.”

Pease could not be reached for comment as of press time.

Welsh declined comment on the primary results.

On the General Election ballot in November, it will be Michael David Harper and Rachel Kaduk vying for the District 7 seat.

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, could cast a ballot in every race in both the Primary and General Election.