Election 2026 | Question of the Week 8, Mayor’s Race
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.
Cape Coral City Council races are non-partisan races. Council members qualify in their respective districts but are elected at-large. This means all registered city voters may cast a ballot in each race regardless of where they live and the party to which they are affiliated, if any. This year’s General Election, on Nov. 3, features four Cape Coral City Council races: Mayor and the seats for District 1, 4 and 6.
The candidates below are running for the mayor’s seat on the Cape Coral City Council:
Question of the Week: What would you delete from the city budget? What would you add?
• Lisa Cohen-Adkinson
I would delete waste, duplication and spending that cannot demonstrate value to Cape Coral taxpayers, not the essential services they depend on. I would scrutinize unnecessary vacancies, duplicative administration, excessive consulting, overpriced contracts, unused software and subscriptions, and capital projects that can safely be delayed.
What would I add? Accountability.
Every department, contract and major expenditure should have measurable results and a clear reason for being there. Before asking taxpayers for another dollar, we should make sure we’re getting the most from the dollars we already collect.
Every dollar counts because it’s your money.
• Richard Erickson
I would cut spending that does not directly help the people of Cape Coral. That includes the proposed $3 million economic development fund, unnecessary consultants, and adding government jobs without a clear need. I would not cut police, fire, hurricane preparedness, roads or other basic services. I would put more money toward fixing roads, drainage, utilities and our permitting system. Before we ask taxpayers for more money, City Hall needs to prove it is spending the money it already has wisely. We need to focus on needs before wants and make sure every tax dollar has a purpose.