Fort Myers Beach Council refuses to set qualifying period for recall election, setting up showdown with Chief Judge of L
The Town of Fort Myers Beach Council has refused to set a qualifying date for candidates to run in a special recall election for the seats of councilmembers John King and Karen Woodson. The council voted 4-1 to not adopt a qualifying period for candidates, setting up a possible showdown with the Chief Judge of Lee County Circuit Court J. Frank Porter, who ordered the special recall election. The motion could potentially put the council at risk of being found in breach of Porter’s order. Voting against setting a qualifying period election were councilmembers King, Woodson, Scott Safford and Vice Mayor Jim Atterholt. Mayor Dan Allers was the lone vote to support setting a qualifying date of Sept. 15 and Sept. 16. The deadline for the qualifying period was requested by Lee County Supervisor of Elections Tommy Doyle due to the need for time for overseas ballots to be sent out.
Town counsel Nancy Stuparich said the reason the qualifying dates for candidates have been set for Sept. 15 and Sept. 16 and not immediately this week is there needs to be time for candidates to gather signatures by petition. Stuparich said the Lee County Supervisor of Elections can’t set qualifying dates and that only the town can set the qualifying period for the candidates.
Councilmember Scott Safford asked Stuparich if the Lee County Supervisor of Elections Tommy Doyle was “mandating that we do this?”
Stuparich said Doyle didn’t have the authority to mandate the town follow the qualifying period as requested. “He has not mandated, he doesn’t have the authority to mandate that of us,” Stuparich said.
https://www.fortmyersbeachtalk.com/news/community-news/2025/09/fort-myers-beach-council-refuses-to-set-qualifying-period-for-recall-election-setting-up-showdown-with-chief-judge-of-lee-county/