Guest Commentary: Candidate documentation is a safeguard
To the Citizens of Cape Coral,
Currently, the City Charter requires only that a candidate present a valid voter registration card to qualify for placement on the ballot. The amendment proposed by the Charter Review Commission strengthens and modernizes this process. It requires that any candidate for City Council or Mayor submit a sworn affidavit affirming they meet all eligibility requirements to run for and hold office, including the residency standards established within our Charter. In addition, candidates must provide two forms of identification verifying their residence within the district they seek to represent, ensuring transparency, fairness, and integrity in the qualification process.
Trust is the cornerstone of representative government. Every vote cast, every oath taken, and every act of public service depends on one simple promise, that those who seek to represent the people do so truthfully, and in accordance with the laws and standards we all share. Without that trust, the bond between citizen and government weakens, and with it, the confidence that makes democracy possible.
This proposal is simple in design, but significant in principle. It ensures that those who stand for office do so with honesty and transparency, verifying to the public that they meet the qualifications required by law. It replaces assumption with affirmation, and it gives our residents confidence that every name appearing on the ballot represents a qualified, legitimate candidate.
Such a safeguard is not an act of suspicion, but of stewardship. The people of Cape Coral deserve the assurance that those who seek to govern, have met the same standards they will one day swear to uphold. A sworn affidavit carries with it the weight of accountability as a reminder that the public’s trust is not to be taken lightly.
By requiring documentation and declaration, this amendment protects both the voter and the candidate. It provides a fair, consistent, and transparent process for qualification; one that values honesty over convenience and clarity over confusion.
With confidence in our democratic process and the character of our people,
— Richard Leon is the chair of the Charter Review Commission.
Editor’s note: Mr. Leon plans to send a series of letters to the editor explaining the charter changes recommended for Cape Coral City Council consideration. This is the second contribution, covering the proposed charter amendment dealing with residency requirements for candidates for Cape Coral City Council.