Aug. 18 Primary features two universal elections
Primary day this Tuesday will be a lot more than just primaries for Fort Myers Beach voters.
In two countywide races open to all registered voters regardless of party, Fort Myers Beach residents will have a chance to have their say on a Lee County Board of County Commissioners seat and the District 6 open seat on the School District of Lee County School Board.
The District 5 seat on the Lee County Board of County Commissioners is universal primary featuring two Republicans facing each other. Because it is a universal, or “open primary,” registered voters of any party and non-affiliated voters (independents) will be able to vote in the race between Commissioner Trish Petrosky and challenger Amanda Cochran.
Petrosky, 35, a former Realtor and executive assistant at Evangelical Christian School, was appointed to the seat in December by Gov. Ron DeSantis to replace the late commissioner Mike Greenwell.
Cochran is the co-owner of RE/MAX River & Ranch and has made her name speaking out against development projects in and around Alva, including the new high school being built in Alva.
She narrowly lost a Primary race against Greenwell in 2024.
The two Alva Republicans have sparred over the pace of growth in the county.
While District 5 covers the northern and eastern part of the county, all registered voters in the county are eligible to vote in the race regardless of their district.
The same holds true for the District 6 school board race between incumbent Jada Langford-Fleming and challenger India Palencia.
Langford-Fleming, a former elementary school teacher who taught for 20 years and currently works as an athletic trainer, is seeking a second term in office.
Palencia, a substitute teacher from Estero, is seeking her first term. The school district’s fiscal crisis has been a top issue, with Palencia pledging to provide more oversight of spending, and Langford-Fleming backing the superintendent and school board’s approach to cutting staff.
Fort Myers Beach registered Republican Party voters will have a say in the Republican Primary for governor, which includes Lt. Gov. Jay Collins, U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, and former Florida Speaker of the House Paul Renner. Other candidates include James Fishback, Jim Holcomb, Arthur Joseph McCaffrey, Daniel Nokovich, Rachel Rodriguez, James Shaw, Caneste Succe, and Bobby Williams.
Registered Republicans on Fort Myers Beach will also be sorting out a Republican Primary for the 19th Congressional District seat being vacated by Donalds.
The Congressional Primary features 10 candidates: Greg Bukowski, Madison Cawthorn, Chris Collins, Ola Hawatmeh, Catalina Lauf, Jim Oberweis, Mike Pedersen, Linda Sawyer, Jim Schwartzel, and John Strand.
There is also a Republican Primary for the U.S. Senate seat held by Ashley Moody. Sen. Moody is facing challenges from Chris Gleason, Neelam Taneja Perry, and Ernest “Ernie” Rivera.
There are also three nonpartisan races all voters will be deciding involving judgeships.
Circuit Judge James Stewart, who was appointed to a seat on the 20th Judicial Circuit by DeSantis, is facing a challenge from Fort Myers attorney Vera Bergermann in Group 19.
Judge Amanda Levy-Reis of the 20th Judicial Circuit is facing a challenge from attorney Ryan Kuhl in Group 27.
Lee County Judge Javier Pacheco, who was appointed by DeSantis, will face Javier Pacheco.
According to the Lee County Supervisor of Elections, 12% of the vote has already taken place by early voting and mail ballots. There have been 62,278 votes cast as of Tuesday, out of 494,200 eligible voters.
Early voting continues from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily through Saturday at early voting sites.
On Election Day, polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Fort Myers Beach at the Bay Oaks Recreational Campus at 2731 Oak St.
The Town of Fort Myers Beach Council election for three seats will be held on Nov. 3.
To reach NATHAN MAYBERG, please email nmayberg@breezenewspapers.com