Feichthaler campaign qualifies for ballot via petition drive
Former Cape Coral Mayor Eric Feichthaler, who is running for a Lee County judge’s seat, has collected enough signed petitions to appear on the ballot.
Feichthaler filed paperwork on Feb. 23 with the Lee County Supervisor of Elections Office for the Group 4 seat, held by Judge Archie B. Hayward Jr. Hayward is seeking to retain the seat, yo which he was appointe in 2008.
To qualify for a race, candidates can pay a fee or collect petitions from 1 percent of the total registered voters from the last election — Feichthaler needed 3,205 signatures. Candidates can open a campaign file for a race on through the qualifying period, which runs from April 26-30.
According to a prepared statement, Feichthaler’s campaign completed the drive on Saturday by obtaining more than 3,200 petition names to qualify for the race. His name will be on the ballot in the primary election, set for Aug. 24.
“We have received an incredibly strong reception from the voters of Lee County,” Feichthaler said. “Our message of service to the community was warmly received by the people, resulting in our campaign garnering over 3,200 petitions in just over three weeks.”
According to the statement, Feichthaler is a Florida Supreme Court certified circuit civil mediator. His family moved to Lee County in 1987 and Feichthaler graduated from Mariner High School in 1990. He is married to Mary, and they have three children, 5-year-old Eric, 3-year-old Tyler and 1-year-old Emily.
“I am looking forward to utilizing my years of experience as an attorney and community leader to serve the people,” he said.
Feichthaler graduated from the University of Miami with a bachelor’s degree in economics and earned his juris doctor from the Georgetown University Law Center, where he competed in the mock trial competition. He later earned his Master of Law from New York University.
Feichthaler served as Cape Coral mayor from 2005-08. In 2008, he resigned to run for the Lee County Commission but was unsuccessful.
Feichthaler is on the board of four non-profit organizations, including Cape Coral Housing Rehabilitation and Development, the Cape Coral Charter School Foundation, Community Coordinated Care for Children Inc. and the Cape Coral Mayor’s Scholarship Fund. He is also a youth soccer coach.
Lee County judges serve for six years, according to the elections Web site.
The original term for the Group 4 seat ran from 2004-10. Gov. Charlie Crist appointed Hayward to the seat to finish out the last two years of the term.
Judges do not run on party affiliations, so all registered voters in Lee County can cast a ballot in those races, regardless of party affiliation.