Municipal Elections

The Town of Fort Myers Beach will hold elections Town Council for seats #3, #4 and #5 on Tuesday, March 17, 2020.  The seats are currently held by Council Member Butcher, Mayor Cereceda and Council Member Shamp.   (Mayor Cereceda will be termed out, Council Member Butcher has unofficially said he will not seek re-election and Council Member Shamp has officially said she will not seek re-election.)


At the request of the Lee County Supervisor of Elections, the Town Council has also passed Ordinance 19-13 changing the qualifying period for March 17, 2020 election only.  Qualifying week is Noon, January 6, 2020 through Noon, January 10, 2020.  Pre-qualifying begins 14 days prior to qualifying week, or December 23, 2019.

A candidate for Town Council must be a resident of the Town of Fort Myers Beach and a registered voter and must have resided within the corporate limits of the Town for a minimum of one year prior to qualifying for election.  A person may announce his or her candidacy at any time, however, no person shall accept any contribution, make any expenditure or collect any signatures (to qualify by petition) without first opening a campaign account by filing form DS-DE 9, designating a campaign treasurer and depository.

 

There will be two referenda on the March 17, 2020 ballot:  (Ordinance 19-08)

1.  ELECTION DATE

The Town Charter currently provides that the regular election of members of the Town Council shall be held on the second Tuesday in March.  It is proposed that the Charter be amended to revise such provision by moving the regular election of members of the Town Council to the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, so as to coincide with federal and state election dates.

     Shall the above-described Charter amendment be adopted?  Yes [  ]  No [  ]

2.  TERMS OF OFFICE

The Town Charter currently provides for 3 year terms with a maximum of 2 consecutive (total of 6 years) for each Councilmember. It is proposed that the Charter be amended to increase the term of office to 4 years with a maximum of 2 consecutive terms (total of 8 years) to ensure that regular Town Council elections coincide with federal and state election dates as set forth in proposed Charter amendment number one.

     Shall the above-described Charter amendment be adopted?  Yes [  ]  No [  ]

For additional information and required forms: 

                                  Elections Information 2020

                                  2020 Candidate Election Calendar

Florida Department of Elections           https://dos.myflorida.com/elections/

Florida Commission on Ethics              http://www.ethics.state.fl.us/   

Lee County Elections                            https://www.lee.vote/