Tuesday night pitted four candidates vying to become the next Cape Coral City Council member for District 1 in Southwest Florida's Lee County.
District 1 includes southeast Cape Coral, but the voting was done citywide for the four-year term. All eligible voters, regardless of party affiliation, could cast their ballots in the non-partisan elections that wrapped up the first phase Tuesday Aug. 18. The two with the highest totals advance to the Nov. 3 general election. Incumbent Bill Steinke did not seek reelection.
Cape Coral has a council-manager form of government with seven districts with population sizes that are as equal as possible and follow the center lines of streets or canals. Council members are paid an annual salary of more than $44,000. With four combatants, a recount was possible if a candidate was eliminated by ½ of 1% or less of the total votes cast for an office, according to state elections guidelines put in place in 2022.
Look for continuing coverage and updates here as election night results roll out and in the News-Press for the latest leading up to November, when voters make their final decision in the race. Here are the candidates who were in contention:
A retired Boeing defense manager and former Cape Coral mayoral candidate, Shadrach touted his decades of management experience from the aerospace and defense industry. He campaigned on bringing a disciplined, analytical approach to city government, often focusing on accountability, transparency and careful evaluation of major spending decisions. Shadrach said he had the willingness to challenge the status quo on city policy issues.
"I have studied the city budget for seven years and advocated for less taxes and assessments," Shadrach, 67, said prior to Tuesday's results. "I have a master's degree in finance and 37 years as a government contractor with program management experience. I can oversee the city manager to make him accountable to costs and schedules."
A Cape Coral native and customer service specialist, Hartman positioned himself as a candidate focused on quality of life, government accountability and managing growth. Hartman emphasized the need for infrastructure to keep pace with development while balancing the tax burden on residents. As one of the younger candidates in the field, the 35-year-old presented himself as a fresh voice focused on long-term planning and maintaining Cape Coral's appeal for future generations.
"The people of Cape Coral deserve to have someone who will listen to them and address their concerns," Hartman said before votes were tallied. "My professional background is in customer service. My job involves listening to people and addressing their concerns. I want to bring my customer service experience to the Cape Coral City Council."
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An Air Force veteran and retired Las Vegas police officer, Newton said he was bringing a public safety and military background to the race. He had stressed fiscal responsibility, efficient government operations and protecting taxpayers while ensuring city services remain strong. Newton often pointed to his decades of law enforcement and leadership experience as preparation for addressing growth, public safety needs and infrastructure challenges facing Cape Coral."I bring a lifetime of service as a veteran, retired law enforcement officer and community advocate who understands the importance of accountability, public safety and responsible leadership," Newton, 54, said along the campaign trail. "My focus is simple: protecting taxpayers, improving infrastructure, managing growth responsibly and preserving the quality of life that makes Cape Coral a great place to live."
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A Marine Corps veteran who moved to Cape Coral in 2004, Senatore is founder of Bella Casa Services Real Estate. He had highlighted his business experience and involvement in the local real estate market, arguing that those perspectives give him firsthand knowledge of development issues, housing trends and economic growth. Senatore emphasized balancing continued investment with protecting residents from unnecessary financial burdens."Affordable housing is closely tied to wages and household income," Senatore, 67, said during the campaign. "To attract young families, teachers, nurses, doctors, first responders and professionals, Cape Coral must create an economy that supports middle- and upper-income jobs."
Writing In the Know for the USA TODAY Network, Columnist Phil Fernandez ([email protected]) grew up in Southwest Florida and has led Pulitzer Prize-winning efforts. Sign up for our free Breaking Ground growth and development newsletter. Subscribe to our News-Press and Naples Daily News apps.
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Cape Coral council District 1 rundown. Voters choose a pair to advance