The elective officers of the City of Fort Myers are a city council consisting of a mayor and six councilpersons. Councilpersons shall be elected by the registered electors of their respective wards and the mayor shall be elected at large.
ELECTION FOR MAYOR AND COUNCILPERSONS IN WARDS 1, 3,AND 5
Primary Election: Second Tuesday after the first Monday in September in odd numbered years beginning in 2009.
General Election: First Tuesday after the first Monday in November in odd numbered years beginning in November 2009.
ELECTION FOR COUNCILPERSONS IN WARDS 2, 4, AND 6
Primary Election: Eight (8) weeks before the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November in odd numbered years beginning in 2011.
General Election: First Tuesday after the first Monday in November in odd numbered years beginning in November 2011.
Each elected official shall serve for a term of four years. The City elections are nonpartisan.
The successful candidates shall take office on the first regular council meeting date after the date of the general election.
Candidates qualify and file all reports at the City Clerk’s Office in City Hall, 2200 Second Street.
QUALIFYING REQUIREMENTS
MAYOR
At Large Election
1. Must be a registered elector of the City. (City Charter, Section 10)
2. Must be a permanent resident of the City. (City Charter, Section 10)
3. Shall be a resident of the city for a period of at least twelve (12) consecutive months prior to such election. (City Charter, Section 10)
4. Filing Fee – At the time of qualifying, each candidate for mayor shall pay to the city clerk a sum of One Hundred Dollars ($100.00). (City Charter, Section 64)
5. Election Assessment – Each person seeking to qualify for election to a municipal office shall pay, at the time of qualifying, an election assessment equal to one percent (1%) of the annual salary of the office sought.
6. The total cost for qualifying is $1,012.94. (Annual Salary: $84,094.40 plus $7,200.00 Personal Travel Allowance and Expenses for a total of $91,294.40) (Florida Statutes 99.093(1); 99.061(2) and City Charter, Section 64).
7. Checks for filing/qualifying fees must be drawn on the candidate’s campaign checking account and made payable to the CITY OF FORT MYERS.
8. File a Statement of Financial Interest together with, and at the same time, he or she files qualifying papers. (Florida Statutes 112.3145(2)(a))
* Qualifying fees are subject to change
COUNCIL PERSONS
Single Ward Elections
Wards 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6
1. Must be a registered elector of the City. (City Charter, Section 10)
2. Must be a permanent resident of the City. (City Charter, Section 10)
3. Shall be a resident of the ward from which he or she is elected for a period of at least six (6) months prior to such election. (City Charter, Section 10)
4. Filing Fee – At the time of qualifying, each candidate for City Council shall pay to the City Clerk a sum of One Hundred Dollars ($100.00). (City Charter, Section 64)
5. Election Assessment – Each person seeking to qualify for election to a municipal office shall pay, at the time of qualifying, an election assessment equal to one percent (1%) of the annual salary of the office sought.
6. The total cost for qualifying is $450.00*. (Annual Salary: $32,629.74 plus $2,400.00 Personal Travel Allowance for a total of $35,629.74) (Florida Statutes 99.093(1); 99.061(2) and City Charter, Section 64).
6. Checks for filing/qualifying fees must be drawn on the candidate’s campaign checking account and made payable to the CITY OF FORT MYERS.
7. File Statement of Financial Interest together with, and at the same time, he or she files qualifying papers. (Florida Statutes 112.3145(2)(a))
* Qualifying fees are subject to change
QUALIFYING AND ELECTION DATES FOR 2009 – Mayor and Wards 1, 3, and 5
Qualifying: July 20-24, 2009
Primary Election: September 8, 2009
General Election: November 3, 2009
Successful Candidates Take Office: November 16, 2009
QUALIFYING AND ELECTION DATES FOR 2011 – Wards 2, 4, and 6
Qualifying: July 25-29, 2011
Primary Election: September 13, 2011
General Election: November 8, 2011
Successful Candidates Take Office November 21, 2011
QUALIFYING AND ELECTION DATES FOR 2013 – Mayor and Wards 1, 3, and 5
Qualifying: July 22-26, 2013
Primary Election: September 10, 2013
General Election: November 5, 2013
Successful Candidates Take Office: November 18, 2013
QUALIFYING AND ELECTION DATES FOR 2015 – Wards 2, 4, and 6
Qualifying: July 21-25, 2015
Primary Election: September 9, 2015
General Election: November 4, 2015
Successful Candidates Take Office: November 17, 2015
.
POLITICAL SIGN REGULATIONS