Cape Council moves city elections back to even years
Cape Coral voters will again elect city council members on the same ballots that also contain federal, state and county races.
The Cape Coral City Council on Monday approved an ordinance that will change when municipal elections are held, a measure that will save the city hundreds of thousands of dollars while increasing voter turnout.
The 7-1 decision will move city elections from odd-numbered back to even-numbered years, when presidential and gubernatorial elections also take place.
The ordinance will take effect for the 2020 presidential election for Council seats 2, 3, 5 and 7. The elections for the seats for Districts 1, 4, and 6, and the mayoral seat will be moved to fall of 2022.
The ordinance provides for a one-time, one-year extension of terms of current council members and mayor to accommodate the change. All council seats, including the mayoral, are elected citywide.
By state law, terms cannot be shortened, only extended when election cycles are changed.
Tom Hart, legal counsel, and Bernie Feliciano, assistant supervisor for the Lee Elections Office, addressed the benefits of having even-numbered-year elections, which have the approval of Lee County Supervisor of Elections Tommy Doyle.
Doyle, who could not attend Monday’s meeting, has stated he is in approval of the change, provided only one general referendum be placed on the general election ballot, with the exception of bond referendums. Any additional city referenda would be placed on the primary ballot.
Before the election ordinance was heard, the city’s Charter Review Commission said in its presentation of recommended changes to the city charter that it also recommended even-year elections, something the city had before a previous supervisor of elections required Lee municipalities change to their schedules due to “too crowded” ballots.
The proposed change was a problem for Councilmember Rick Williams, who said a change in the election cycle should be brought to referendum and so a public vote.
“We are taking the vote away from the people and they should have the right to vote on it. We were elected for four years, not five,” said Williams, who is in his last term. “We need to follow the charter review process. I will not support this.”
Councilmember Marilyn Stout pointed out there was precedence – city elections were moved to odd-numbered years in 2007 via ordinance.
Florida Statutes provide that municipalities can exercise home rule powers to amend their charter to change election dates and terms of office changes without referendum.
Councilmember David Stokes added that a poll conducted by the Cape Coral Breeze showed 75 percent of participants approved the move.
“Last time we had 17 percent turnout for the local election and 80 percent for the presidential election,” Stokes said. “Saving $400,000 and increasing turnout 400 percent is a no-brainer.”
During public comment, former city council member Kevin McGrail told a story of how he tried to convince former Supervisor of Elections Sharon Harrington to move elections back to even-numbered years. Harrington took office after her predecessor mandated the change.
“She hung up on me. I’m all for this. It’s a home run for the city,” McGrail said. “With the GO Bonds and all the money you’ll be saving, put sidewalks in to help kids get to the parks safely.”
Mayor Joe Coviello said ultimately, Council was elected to make decisions like this, not the residents.
“This is one of those decisions that we can’t just push on the voters. Some people might see this and see the extra year,” Coviello said. “Some might not turn down the extra year, some might. We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it.”