| Republican Women hold commission candidate forum |
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| Written by AILEEN MCELROY |
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The Fort Myers Republican Women's Club Federated hosted a Republican forum featuring candidates for Lee County Commission Districts 3 and 5 last Tuesday at Edison College. The candidates include incumbent Frank Mann and challenger Shawn Seliger in District 5 and incumbent Ray Judah and challenger Anita Cereceda for the District 3 post. Currently county commissioners run at large, which allows all Lee County residents to vote for all commissioner candidates. Under a single member district system voters would only be allowed to vote for a candidate running in their geographical district. Seliger, Judah and Mann overall said they opposed single member districts while Cereceda said she is in favor of the system. "I will proudly be the odd woman out and say that I do believe in single member districts contrary to what the other comments have been," said Cereceda. "I think that people run for office for two distinct reasons and it should be very apparent to you all as you listen to us today. Does the person want to be something or does the person want to do something? If it is the latter, they will always take into consideration the broader spectrum. They will always look for the greater good and they will always look to serve the needs of the people." Seliger said it has been an issue in this year's campaign, but wouldn't fight it if Lee County residents voted in favor of single member districts. "Throughout the course of my campaign, I've shaken thousands of hands and listened to thousands of voters," said Seliger. "There has been a tremendous outcry especially in District 5 about lack of representation. Even if you have single member districts it's not going to change the fact that from time to time people will elect people that are not accountable and not responsive to the general public. I believe we address issues that affect all of Lee County and therefore I believe that everybody should have the right to vote in this. However if a charter review commission is later created and they do support single district voting I will not obstruct that process." Judah said single districts would reduce accountability to commissioners. "I do not support single member districts and I'll tell you why," said Judah. "I really feel very strongly on this. This goes back to 1988 when it was a very important issue before the community at that time and I did not support it then. I truly feel that a candidate running for county commissioner should have to work their tail off to be able to be accountable to the entire community. Quite frankly, I think single member districts create divisiveness. You have to be accountable to the entire community and make sure you represent everyone's interests. That way everybody rises at the same level." Mann said he wasn't necessarily in favor of single districts but he would support letting Lee County voters decide for themselves. "The issue of single member districts can be argued both ways," said Mann. "I frankly agree with what Ray said about being responsible to all the citizens of the community…and I agree with Shawn. If the commission brought it to us and asked us to put it on the ballot I would support putting it on and letting people speak to it but for now I think our best interest is to leave the system as it is and that is at-large voting."
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