Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Cape Coral Mayor & City Council Election 2026

4 of 8

council seats up

4 contests

8 candidates

Updated Oct 2, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check →

The candidates

Listed alphabetically by last name. Every position links to its source.

Mayor · 1 seat

Lisa Cohen-AdkinsonBroker-owner of Valor Real Estate Services, Inc. for 26 years. Her campaign lists 15-plus years of civic advocacy at City Council meetings and service on the Public Safety Building Committee.3sourced
Rick EricksonRetired U.S. Army Special Forces sergeant major with more than 32 years of service in Army components. He says he is running to cut unnecessary fees and fix the city's permitting process.4sourced

City Council District 1 · 1 seat

City Council District 4 · 1 seat

City Council District 6 · 1 seat

Four contests are on this ballot: mayor and the District 1, 4 and 6 council seats. All are voted on citywide, so every Cape Coral voter picks one candidate in each; council candidates must live in their district.

3 notes on these statements

Most candidate statements here come from the Cape Coral Breeze's weekly Question of the Week, which gives every candidate in a race the same question and about 100 words to answer. Cape Coral Breeze · Oct 1, 2026

The Breeze lists Rick Erickson as "Richard Erickson" in its Question of the Week answers. Cape Coral Breeze · Oct 1, 2026

The council's final vote on the North 3 utility assessments is scheduled for Nov. 2, before any new members are seated. Cape Coral Breeze · Sep 29, 2026

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Derrick DonnellFormer U.S. Marine Corps officer and Gulf War veteran and an educator with the School District of Lee County. He previously served on the City Council from 2007 to 2015.6sourced Rachel KadukResidential loan coordinator at Sanibel Captiva Community Bank. She sits on the board of the Chamber of Commerce of Cape Coral.5sourced Joe KilraineChemical engineer with a 40-year private-industry career in oil, gas, refining and chemicals. He has lived in Cape Coral for 20 years.5sourced Laurie LehmannRetired registered nurse who specialized in intensive care and has lived in District 2 since 2004.4sourced

Start here

Match quiz5 questions · answers stay on your phone Seat the CouncilPick winners, see the council What council decidesBudget, taxes and fees, Amendment 3 and city revenue, Bimini East redevelopment Key datesDeadlines and vote centers

Next date

Voter registration deadline

Mon, Oct 5, 2026

TodayAll key dates

What the next council decides

Budget, taxes and fees

Where it standsThe council adopted a $1.44 billion FY2027 budget 7-1 and kept the property tax rate at 5.1471 mills; it also approved this year's stormwater fee and fire assessment 6-2.

What's on the tableThe new council sets the FY2028 tax rate, fees and assessments, and decides how much to rely on reserves.

The council voted 7-1 to approve a $1.44 billion budget and kept the general property tax rate at 5.1471 mills, the same as last year; Derrick Donnell cast the only no vote. Gulfshore Business
At the first budget hearing, the council voted 7-1 to use $1,642,783 from the budget stabilization reserve to cover a gap that stemmed from a decrease in state shared revenues. Cape Coral Breeze · Sep 15, 2026
The council approved the FY2026-27 stormwater fee and fire protection assessment 6-2, with Keith Long and Rachel Kaduk voting no on both. Cape Coral City Council · Aug 26, 2026

Amendment 3 and city revenue

Where it standsStatewide Amendment 3 on the Nov. 3 ballot would raise the homestead exemption for non-school taxes, which the city says would cut its property tax revenue.

What's on the tableIf it passes, the next council decides what to cut, delay or fund differently to make up the lost revenue.

Amendment 3 would raise the homestead exemption for non-school taxes to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028; it needs 60% of the vote to pass. Ballotpedia
The city estimates Amendment 3 would cost it $31.1 million in tax revenue in year one and $56.9 million in year two, citing the state's Office of Economic and Demographic Research. City of Cape Coral
According to the city, 91.4% of Cape Coral is residential and 60.8% of improved residential properties are homesteaded. City of Cape Coral

Bimini East redevelopment

Where it standsThe council, sitting as the redevelopment agency, approved a tax rebate of up to $45.7 million for the $500 million Bimini East project; a hearing on the development agreement is set for Oct. 7.

What's on the tableThe next council will oversee the Bimini East agreement and any changes to it, including the future of Four Freedoms Park.

Sitting as South Cape Community Redevelopment Agency commissioners, the council approved a $45.7 million tax rebate for the Bimini East project. Cape Coral Breeze · Sep 10, 2026
The Crowne Development proposal is a $500 million project with 900 residential units, 250 hotel keys, medical and general office space, retail and a marina on 34 acres. Cape Coral Breeze · Sep 10, 2026
The city manager said the development agreement will not include a transfer of Four Freedoms Park, which will remain city land. Cape Coral Breeze · Sep 10, 2026
The public hearing on the Bimini East development agreement was moved to Oct. 7, when the council will decide whether to approve it. Gulf Coast News · Sep 17, 2026

North 3 utility expansion assessments

Where it standsThe council moved forward with assessments for the North 3 Utilities Expansion project on Sept. 28; a final vote on assessments and construction contracts is expected Nov. 2.

What's on the tableThe next council will oversee construction and any later utility expansion phases and their assessments.

North 3 lots east of Burnt Store Road face an estimated assessment of $35,264 and lots west of it $41,029, before plumbing and connection costs. Cape Coral Breeze · Sep 29, 2026
A public hearing on the final assessment resolutions and construction contracts is set for Nov. 2, the day before the election. Cape Coral Breeze · Sep 29, 2026

Oversight of the city manager

Where it standsCape Coral has a council-manager government: the mayor and council appoint the city manager, who prepares the budget and runs city departments.

What's on the tableThe new council evaluates City Manager Michael Ilczyszyn and decides whether to keep him.

The mayor and council appoint a city manager who serves as the city's chief administrative officer and prepares the budget for the council. City of Cape Coral
Asked to rate City Manager Michael Ilczyszyn on a 1-to-5 scale, both mayoral candidates gave him a 3. Cape Coral Breeze · Oct 1, 2026

Who matches you?

Answer any of these questions. We compare your answers with each person's sourced record, and nothing is stored. Questions where no one has a sourced record yet are left out. Tap a selected answer again to skip it.

1. What should the city do with the Bimini East development deal?
2. If Amendment 3 cuts city property tax revenue, how should the city respond?
3. Should the city approve the fire assessment and stormwater fee as staff proposes them each year?
4. Should the North 3 utility expansion assessments go ahead now?
5. How would you rate the city manager's performance?

Seat the Council →

Pick a winner for each open seat and see where the resulting council stands on each issue.

Key dates

Lee County begins mailing domestic vote-by-mail ballotsCape Coral Breeze · Sep 24, 2026Sep 29, 2026
Voter registration deadlineLee County Supervisor of ElectionsOct 5, 2026
Early voting begins (daily through Oct. 31)Cape Coral Breeze · Sep 24, 2026Oct 19, 2026
Deadline to request a vote-by-mail ballot (5 p.m.)Lee County Supervisor of ElectionsOct 22, 2026
Election Day; polls open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., mail ballots due by 7 p.m.Lee County Supervisor of ElectionsNov 3, 2026

The seat math

4 stay (not up this year): Derrick Donnell, Rachel Kaduk, Joe Kilraine, Laurie Lehmann4 on this ballot

8 council seats. The council decides by a 5-vote majority.

Cape Coral has a council-manager form of government; the mayor and council appoint a city manager who serves as the chief administrative officer. City of Cape Coral
Residents elect a mayor and seven council members. Council members qualify in their districts but are elected at large. City of Cape Coral
All elections are nonpartisan. Terms are four years, and members are limited to two consecutive terms. City of Cape Coral
The 2026 elections are for mayor and the council seats in Districts 1, 4 and 6. City of Cape Coral
The mayor votes on council items along with the seven district council members, as shown in the council's roll calls. Cape Coral City Council · Aug 26, 2026
The District 4 race had only two candidates, so it was not on the primary ballot. Cape Coral Breeze · Aug 20, 2026

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