Lee lawmakers promise more public discussion on bills to reshape county government

The Lee County state legislative delegation promised to hold public workshops on two hotly debated bills to reshape county government in a three-hour meeting Thursday morning.

The legislators did not take votes on the measures, which would put referenda on the 2024 ballot to create single-member county commission districts and replace the county's appointed manager with an elected mayor.

“We’ve obviously heard that there are people in favor and there are people not in favor of it," said Rep. Mike Giallombardo, who sponsored the elected-mayor bill. “This is not saying Tallahassee is coming in and doing this. Let’s let the voters decide how their government is structured.”

Giallambardo said he would not push the elected county mayor bill through in the 2024 session.

The debate showcased rifts between members of the delegation and the county's Board of County Commissioners, who passed a resolution opposing the bills at a special meeting Wednesday morning. Commissioner Cecil Pendergrass introduced the resolution with support from Commissioners Ray Sandelli and Mike Greenwell, while Commissioners Brian Hamman and Kevin Ruane dissented.

“There’s no system that is perfect," Commissioner Ray Sandelli told the delegation at Thursday's morning's meeting. "I strongly believe that the platform we have in Lee County is working.”

Currently, Lee County's five at-large commissioners appoint a city manager, who oversees the county administration and implements the board's policies. A bill by Rep. Adam Botana would expand the board to seven members, with five directly elected by their districts and two elected county-wide.

More: Lee commissioners vote to oppose proposals for elected mayor, single-member districts

Previously: Lee County commissioners to discuss proposals for elected mayor, single-member districts

Proponents of the expansion, including Lee County League of Women Voters President Sandy Frank and Property Appraiser Matt Caldwell, argued that it would grant residents better representation by making their commissioners directly accountable to their districts.

“A single-member district is about electing a member of your choosing," Lee County NAACP economic chairman Mike Love said. “Let me ask a question. If I live in Lehigh Acres, why is someone in Sanibel choosing my commissioner?”

Opponents suggested the opposite ‒ that it would disenfranchise voters by revoking their ability to elect all five commissioners.

“My concern about the single-member district is it reduces voter representation," Pendergrass said.

Pendergrass also argued against the cost of the proposals saying the cost of additional staff and independent legal counsel for the board would run $3 million year.

Supporters of the mayor proposal said the county's government structure needs to change to reflect its growing population, which is approaching 800,000 people. Opponents said the county needs a hired professional as manager, rather than an elected mayor who might lack expertise.

Both bills drew criticism from members of Lee County's Charter Review Commission, which is in the midst of its own 18-month process to propose amendments to the charter. Review Commission Chairman Nathan Shaw noted that his board had already considered and rejected plans to introduce an elected mayor.

“None of you show up to comment, and it was voted down 11-2," Shaw said.

But Giallombardo indicated that if changes weren't made, state legislators would set the pace.

"“I know I have the support to pass this referendum to give people the opportunity to vote," Giallombardo said. “If you can’t come up with something now, in 2025 I’m bringing this up again.”

And he suggested that the charter commission is too easily influenced by the county commissioners who appoint its members.

"There have been some questions about what you support, what you don’t support from the commission," he said. “You guys are allowed to essentially lobby the charter."

"I don't lobby anybody," Pendergrass replied.

This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Lee lawmakers debate elected- mayor, single-member districts proposals