Local races matter
Mid-terms rarely have the same draw as presidential election years.
Heading into the final weekend of early voting, and with Election Day looming, this year, though, voter turnout in Lee County thus far is good, according to the Lee Elections Office.
Count us among those who hope it gets even better.
This election is a big one.
Not only are key state offices on the ballot — including what is predicted to be a tight gubernatorial battle between Republican Bryon Donalds and Democratic David Jolly — but four Cape Coral City Council races are up for grabs and two county charter changes are on the ballot.
Add in Amendment 3 and well, we’re not sure why any Cape voter would want to sit this one out.
Among the key races and initiatives are four council seats on the Nov. 3 General Election ballot:
• Cape Coral Mayor: Lisa Cohen-Adkinson and Rick Erickson
• District 1: Dave Newton and Tom Shadrach
• District 4: Incumbent Jennifer Nelson-Lastra and James Vargas
• District 6: Liza King and Annette Warren
The races are at-large and non-partisan meaning voters may cast a ballot no matter the district in which they live.
There are two Lee County Board of County Commissioners races on the ballot:
• District 2: Incumbent Cecil Pendergrass (R) and Elliot Taylor (D)
• District 4: Incumbent Brian Hamman (R) and DeMaria “Princess” Artis (NPA)
The races also are at large meaning voters may cast a ballot no matter the district in which they live.
Lee County School Board races are by district and some Cape voters will see one race on their ballot.
In District 4, incumbent Debbie Jordan faces a well-monied challenge from Tony Beougher in the non-partisan race.
Voters also will decide who oversees elections in Lee County for the next four years. Incumbent Supervisor of Elections Jenna Persons-Mulicka, appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, faces a challenge from Democrat Chris Vignieri.
The race to replace Congressman Byron Donalds in the U.S. House for District 19 includes front runners Republican Jim Schwartzel and Democrat Victor Arias, a Cape Coral lawyer, as well as Seth Hasin, NPA.
Lee County voters will decide two proposed charter questions in addition to three state referendum questions including the controversial homestead exemption increase from $50,000 to $250,000 for local property taxes — excluding school taxes.
At the county level, voters are being asked whether they want to change the county charter to change the at-large right of voters to vote for all county commissioners to single-member voting, which would limit their vote to only the commissioner within their district.
The Breeze has come out as a “No” on this one.
Lee County voters also will decide whether term limits should be imposed for Lee County’s constitutional offices, which include the Lee County Sheriff, Supervisor of Elections, Tax Collector and Tax Appraiser.
On Constitutional Amendment 3 to increase the homestead exemption, we remain a “No.” As good as it sounds, as much as we want tax relief, this bill of goods isn’t it: There are no protections against new or increased taxes that could — and will — negate any “savings.” Cynics that we are, we predict we will all pay more down the road if Amendment 3 passes.
CJ Haddad’s report in today’s Breeze and the Lee Elections website at lee.vote have the details on all the races and the ballot language for the referendums and amendments.
For those still uncertain in the Cape Coral City Council races, The Breeze’s Candidate Questions of the Week may be found on our website at capecoralbreeze.com under Election 2026
We invite you to read.
And we urge you to vote.
Early voting in Lee County, which began Oct. 19, continues through Saturday, Oct. 31, with polling sites open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Saturday. Voters also can drop off their vote-by-mail ballots at secure ballot intake stations at early voting sites during the early voting window.
Voters registered in Lee County can early vote at any location with three sites offered in the Cape — the Cape Coral Elections Office at 1039 SE 9th Ave. and the Cape Coral-Lee County Library at 921 SW 39th Terrace and the Northwest Regional Library at 519 Chiquita Blvd. N. The North Fort Myers Recreation Center at 2000 N. Recreation Park Way is also a closeby option, depending on your Cape address.
On Election Day, Nov. 3, the polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Breeze editorial