As the 2024 Election cycle comes to a close in Southwest and throughout the country, local Lee County and state elected officials have been finalized. With major constitutional amendments and elected officials on the 2024 ballot, election results will impact social and economic policies across the state.
Arguably one of the most controversial amendments on the Florida ballot, Amendment 4, which aimed to make abortion a constitutional right, failed with a 57% majority. All Florida constitutional amendments require a 60% majority to win. Amendment 3, the second most controversial amendment legalizing recreational use of marijuana, failed with a nearly 56% majority. Amendment 6, repealing state funding for statewide campaigning, failed. Lastly Amendment 1, requiring partisan school board elections, also failed.
Amendments 2 and 5 passed. With a 67% majority, the constitutional right to fishing and hunting in the state of Florida will be enacted with the passing of Amendment 2. Also, the 66% majority yes on Amendment 5 will allow home property tax exemption to be adjusted for yearly inflation.
In congressional elections, Senator Rick Scott was reelected with a 55.6% majority. In the House, Districts 1, 2, 3, and 4 were up for election. Matt Gaetz won District 1 (66%), Neal Dunn District 2 (62.7%), Kat Cammack District 3 (61.6%), and Aaron Bean District 4 (57.3%).
In the state senate, districts 1, 3, 5, and 7 were up for grabs. District 1 will be occupied by Don Gaetz, district 3 by Corey Simon, district 5 by Tracie Davis (unopposed), and district 7 by Tom Leek. The state house had districts 1, 2, 3, and 4 open. District 1 will be taken up by Michelle Salzman, district 2 by Alex Andrade, district 3 by Joel Rudman, and district 4 by Patt Maney.
Local to Lee County, nearly 40 positions were up for grabs. Sheriff Carmine Marceno was reelected as Lee County Sheriff with a 90.6% majority. Denise Carlin claimed nearly 68% of votes as the new District Superintendent of Schools. Board of County Commissioners Districts 3 and 5 will be filled by David Mulicka and Mike Greenwell, respectively. The School Board Member District 7 position will be fulfilled by Vanessa Chaviano, who claimed nearly 70% of voters.
In Cape Coral, City Council District 2 seat will go to Laurie Lehmann, who won 56.6% of votes. District 3 will be seated by Derrick Donnel with 53.4%; District 4 goes to Jennifer I. Nelson with 51.2%; District 5 goes to Joseph Kilraine with 52.9%; and District 7 goes to Rachel Kaduk with 53.5%.
In Fort Myers, City Council Ward Seats 2 and 4 were up for election. Seat 2 will go to Diana Giraldo with 55.9% of votes, and Seat 4 to Liston Bochette with 50.8% of votes.
The two available positions in the Lee Memorial Health System Board of Directors for District 5 will be awarded to Kathy Bridge-Liles and Daniel Adler.
