Dawn Beck of Fort Myers Beach registers to vote at the Taste of the Beach Festival at Salty Sam’s Marina on Fort Myers Beach as husband Dean (left) looks on back in 2022. Fort Myers Beach Observer file photo
Today is Election Day, with three school board races on the ballot for all Lee County voters. In addition, there are Republican primaries for the District 3 and District 5 seats on the Lee County Board of County Commissioners. There are universal primaries open to all voters for the seats of Lee County Supervisor of Elections Tommy Doyle and Lee County Appraiser Matt Caldwell. Statewide, there are Republican primaries for the seat of incumbent U.S. Senator Rick Scott and a Democratic primary to run in the November election for the U.S. Senate seat.
Voting for all Fort Myers Beach voters will take place at town hall at 2731 Oak Street on Fort Myers Beach. Polls will close at 7 p.m.
Lee County School Board
Three Lee County School Board seats are on the ballot for the Aug. 20 races:
In at-large District 7, every voter countywide may cast a ballot regardless of the district in which they live. Vanessa Melbis Chaviano, Sheridan Chester and Joshua D. Molandes have qualified. In District 2, incumbent Melisa Giovannelli and Carol Frantz have qualified.
In District 3, which covers Fort Myers Beach, Bill Ribble and Kaitlyn Schoeffel have qualified.
Primary races
There are four countywide primary races this season for political offices.
Two seats on the Lee County Board of County Commissioners are being contested.
In District 3, which includes Fort Myers Beach, Bonita Springs, Estero and unincorporated South Fort Myers, Republican Ray Sandelli is not seeking re-election. David Mulicka and Matthew R. Thornton are contesting the seat in a closed Republican primary.
In District 5, which includes Alva, Lehigh Acres, Buckingham, Olga and eastern unincorporated Fort Myers, incumbent Republican Mike Greenwell is facing a challenge from Republican Amanda Cochran in a closed primary. The winner will face Democrat Kizzie Fowler in November.
All Lee County Republicans can vote in the two races.
Lee County Supervisor of Elections Tommy Doyle, a Republican is being challenged by Lee County Republican Party Executive Committee member Michael “Mick” Peters. The race will be an open primary, meaning all voters can partake regardless of voter registration.
Lee County Property Appraiser Matt Caldwell is facing a Republican Party primary challenge from Steve Cunningham. The race will also be on the primary ballot as a universal primary open to all voters.
Other races on the ballot for Fort Myers Beach voters are the U.S. Senate Republican primary for the seat of Senator Rick Scott. Scott is being challenged by John Columbus and Keith Gross. There is a four-way Democratic primary for the seat between Stanley Campbell, Rod Joseph, Debbie Mucarsel-Powell and Brian Rush.
There are two Republican state committee seats up for election in a primary.
Michael “Mick” Peters is running against Andrew Sund for the Republican state committeeman seat.
There are four Republicans seeking to fill the open state Republican committeewoman seat: Adele Amico, Melissa Giovanelli, Krissy Houlihan and Tara Jenner.