Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Fort Myers Mayor & City Council Election 2026

2 of 7

council seats up

2 contests

4 candidates

Updated Oct 3, 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

Kevin AndersonIncumbentMayor of Fort Myers since November 2020, after two years as the Ward 4 councilperson. He retired from Chico's FAS, Inc. in 2019 after 15 years and earlier spent more than 24 years with the Fort Myers Police Department.8sourced
Amber WareDivision Manager of the City of Fort Myers STARS Complex, with more than 23 years of service to the city. She holds a bachelor's degree in business management from Florida Gulf Coast University.5sourced

City Council Ward 3 · 1 seat

Two contests are on this ballot: mayor, chosen by voters citywide, and the Ward 3 council seat, chosen only by voters who live in Ward 3. The Ward 1 and Ward 5 seats were filled without opposition.

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Liston BochetteCouncilmember, Ward 4; re-elected November 2024 to a 4-year term7sourced Darla BonkCouncilmember, Ward 6; re-elected November 2024 to a 4-year term6sourced Teresa Watkins BrownCouncilmember, Ward 1; elected unopposed in 2026, so the seat is not on the Nov. 3 ballot6sourced Fred BursonFort Myers native and broker for Woodyard & Associates, Commercial Realtors LLC. He also owns an online real estate school.9sourced Diana GiraldoArchitect and founder of a consulting firm focused on sustainable development and resiliency planning. She is a former City of Fort Myers Community Development Department employee.5sourced

Officeholders' pages compare what they've said with how they've voted, with sources.

Start here

Match quiz5 questions · answers stay on your phone Seat the CouncilPick winners, see the council What council decidesProperty taxes, budget and utility rates, STARS youth program funding, Midtown redevelopment and City of Palms Park Key datesDeadlines and vote centers

Next date

Voter registration deadline

Mon, Oct 5, 2026

TodayAll key dates

What the next council decides

Property taxes, budget and utility rates

Where it standsIn September the council adopted an $890.5 million FY2026-27 budget and raised the property tax rate to 6.9 mills, 3.81% above the rollback rate.

What's on the tableThe new council sets next year's tax rate, budget, fees and the scheduled utility rate increases.

The council voted 5-2 for a 6.9000 millage rate, the city's first property tax rate increase in a decade; Fred Burson and Terolyn Watson dissented in favor of the rollback rate. Gulfshore Business
The rollback rate is 6.6465 mills, and 6.9000 mills is 3.81% above it. Fort Myers City Council · Sep 21, 2026
The council approved a scheduled 5% annual increase in water, sewer and irrigation utility rates for fiscal years 2027 through 2031. Gulfshore Business
The council approved a 10% increase in fire assessment rates for all property categories, 6-0. Fort Myers City Council · Sep 9, 2026

STARS youth program funding

Where it standsThe adopted budget reduced funding for several departments, including the STARS youth program, and speakers at both budget hearings asked the council to restore it.

What's on the tableThe next council decides whether to restore STARS money in a budget amendment or next year's budget.

City Manager Marty Lawing told the council the proposed budget was already very constrained, with many departments, including STARS, receiving reduced funding. Fort Myers City Council · Sep 9, 2026
Terolyn Watson asked whether $200,000 for the STARS program could come from reserves; the finance director said the budget could be reviewed before the final hearing. Fort Myers City Council · Sep 9, 2026
At the final hearing, Amber Ware told the council STARS absorbed $400,000 in proposed reductions and asked that at least $200,000 be restored. Fort Myers City Council · Sep 21, 2026

Midtown redevelopment and City of Palms Park

Where it standsThe city broke ground on a $147.2 million police headquarters in Midtown, is demolishing City of Palms Park and is studying a sports fieldhouse there with Card & Associates.

What's on the tableThe next council decides whether to approve a fieldhouse development agreement and how to pay for Midtown projects.

The council voted 4-2 in April 2026 to award a $988,441 contract to demolish City of Palms Park. Fort Myers City Council · Apr 20, 2026
Card & Associates has proposed an indoor sports fieldhouse with apartments, hotels and retail; a formal construction agreement could still be months away. Gulfshore Business
A study commissioned by Card and the city estimated the fieldhouse could generate $62.7 million in annual economic impact. Gulfshore Business

Yacht Basin renovation

Where it standsIn April 2026 the council gave developer Fort Myers SMI LLC until April 1, 2027 to obtain approvals for the Yacht Basin renovation.

What's on the tableThe next council oversees the deadline and any new terms or penalties for further delays.

The council voted 6-1 to extend the Yacht Basin ground lease approval period by one year, to April 1, 2027. Fort Myers City Council · Apr 6, 2026
On a 4-3 vote, the council approved a motion to have Fort Myers SMI LLC pay the city $250,000 a year for every further year until approvals are obtained. Fort Myers City Council · Apr 6, 2026
Fred Burson noted the city has been paying about $450,000 a year in debt service while the project remains incomplete. Fort Myers City Council · Apr 6, 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 property tax rate should the city set?
2. Should water and sewer rates go up 5% a year through 2031?
3. Should the city restore the money cut from the STARS youth program?
4. What should have happened to the City of Palms Park stadium?
5. Should the Yacht Basin developer pay the city for each further year of delay?

Seat the Council →

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

Key dates

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

5 stay (not up this year): Liston Bochette, Darla Bonk, Teresa Watkins Brown, Fred Burson, Diana Giraldo2 on this ballot

7 council seats. The council decides by a 4-vote majority.

The Fort Myers City Council is made up of a mayor and six councilpersons. City of Fort Myers
The mayor is elected by voters across all wards; each councilperson is elected by voters in his or her ward for a 4-year term and must live in that ward. City of Fort Myers
The 2026 municipal elections are for mayor and the council seats for Wards 1, 3 and 5, all four-year terms. City of Fort Myers
Teresa Watkins Brown (Ward 1) and Fred Burson (Ward 5) were elected unopposed; the mayor's race and Ward 3 each have two qualified candidates. Lee County Supervisor of Elections
The mayor presides at council meetings and votes on council items, as shown in the council's roll calls. Fort Myers City Council · Sep 9, 2026
The council meets at 4:30 p.m. on the first and third Monday of each month at City Hall, 2200 Second Street. City of Fort Myers

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