30-year Cape Coral resident joins council after claimed election fraud ruckus

Cape Coral City Council appointed 30-year-resident Richard Carr, 58, as the District 4 council member.

"My history here in the Cape is long and solid, and I just look forward to bringing up my experiences and my openness and willingness to listen to the rest of the community," Carr said.

The council voted him in unanimously.

During the nomination process, four council members expressed their favor for Carr. He was chosen from 13 candidates who applied for the seat. Mayor John Gunter and Councilmembers Bill Steinke, Keith Long, and Tom Hayden voted for Carr.

He plans to use the few weeks before the council returns for the new year to get up to speed on the issues impacting the city.

Hayden said he was impressed with his experience.

"He knows the city," Hayden said. "He's got experience with the city, running the code division, so I think he'll get up to speed real quick on the issues and be a good addition to the council."

Why did the seat need a new council member?

Gov. Ron DeSantis suspended former councilmember Patty Cummings through an executive order on Nov. 16 after she was charged with three felonies related to the 2022 election.

The state mandate required the city to fill the seat by Dec. 16, and applicants were interviewed throughout December.

Council members were paid a base annual salary of $37,288.94 in 2022.

The appointee will serve until late 2024 when the seat will be up for election, and then again in 2026 as Cummings' four-year term expires.

Three others received one vote each

Councilwoman Jessica Cosden cast the only vote for Jennifer Nelson, the woman who held the District 4 seat prior to Cummings.

In November 2022, Cummings unseated Nelson, who was running for her second term, with 28,380 votes, or 50.89%, compared to the 27,382 votes, or 49.11%.

Karen Solgard received the vote of Councilman Robert Welsh, and David Orlowski received the support of Councilman Dan Sheppard.

Who is Richard Carr?

More on the canidates Here what we know about the 13 Cape Coral candidates vying for District 4 seat

More background Cape Coral City Council will appoint District 4 replacement after election fraud arrest

Carr moved from New England to Fort Myers in 1990 to become a police officer. He bought a home in Cape Coral in 1993.

Most of his work experience was outside the city, but he worked as the manager for the city's code enforcement division for six and a half years.

He said he wants to give the best representation he can to the city while helping manage the city's inevitable growth.

Carr said the first thing he wants to do is regain the trust of the community.

"I want to do anything I can to help alleviate any of the concerns they have with this difficult appointment, and just step in and do the best I can for the citizens," Carr said.

He plans to pursue the seat in 2024.

Luis Zambrano is a Watchdog/Cape Coral reporter for The News-Press and the Naples Daily News. You can reach Luis at Lzambrano@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @Lz2official.

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Cape Coral City Council meeting: New councilmember appointed