Village of Estero Updates

Residents in Lee County municipalities Bonita Springs, Cape Coral and Fort Myers vote to elect their respective mayors.

The future Village of Estero, however, would put the decision in the hands of seven elected council members—which could get messy—so a group of Estero residents are working to change that.

The Estero Council of Community Leaders (ECCL), which has spearheaded Estero’s incorporation movement, would have to sign off on any changes, this Fort Myers News-Press article says. The group will meet on Saturday to see if it can change the Village’s proposed charter.

The group also wants to change the charter’s at-large voting system to a single-district system where residents vote on council candidates in their district, according to the article.

“It’s somewhat of a tumultuous task to overcome in 30 days, but at least we bring this up to the people,” Jim Boesch, the transportation director of the ECCL, said. “This is nothing to do with a big disagreement with the ECCL. These same people who are going to this meeting worked with the ECCL to try to get incorporation on the (November) ballot. If it turns out to be a groundswell, the ECCL is going to have to address it.”

Nick Batos, the chairman for an ECCL group that represents 30-gated communities, said the ECCL vetted the issue and held 40 incorporation workshop sessions.

“To bring this up at this stage after the delegation took on the issue and after the charter was supplied to the state and filed, we think is much too late,” Batos said. “Legally, they can still do it. But every time something is changed at this stage, it jeopardizes the entire process.”

But Boesch said the ECCL shouldn’t be so worried.

“The ECCL is getting a little bit overexcited about something I don’t think has enough support to make changes by April 15,” Boesch said. “But why can’t people get together and speak on an issue? Why can’t they talk? Does that make sense in this country?” 

What One Estero Resident Says

Estero resident Adele Amico said the group’s issue is not with incorporation, the News-Press article says.

“We are definitely excited about incorporation,” Amico said. “This is all about the charter and how it’s written. Is it good for the people or is it slanted for the council?”

Amico believes a single-district voting system, like the system in Bonita Springs, would allow more candidates to run for Estero’s city council. Instead of campaigning citywide, candidates would fund and focus a campaign on the residents in their districts.

Speak up! We want to know what you think.

Amico also said Estero’s future mayor should be given more power. In the current charter, Estero’s mayor will serve as chairperson during council meetings, as head of the municipality for the execution of legal documents and as the ceremonial head of the Village. Council members will enact policy.

“Right now, Estero’s mayor would be a formality,” Amico said. “We want the mayor to have more responsibilities and have a purpose other than just a title.”