Sanibel election: Mayor, vice-mayor keep their seats
Sanibel Mayor Holly Smith and Vice-Mayor Richard Johnson, who've led the island city in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, kept their seats in Tuesday's nonpartisan city council election.
Johnson got 1,733 votes, or 39.91%; Smith got 1,703 or 39.22%. Challengers Jude Sincoskie and Troy Thompson received 478 and 428 respectively, or 11.01% and 9.86%.
Sanibel councilors, who are unpaid, serve four-year terms; elections are staggered, so Scott Crater, John Henshaw and Mike Miller didn't have to defend their posts this cycle. Every year, council members vote on who will serve in the top two posts at the first regular council meeting after the election, which will be March 21.
Hurricane Ian pummeled the barrier island city with 155 mph winds pushing12 feet of storm surge, uncoupling it from the mainland and leaving some 46% of its buildings with major damage or destroyed, according to Federal Emergency Management Agency estimates.
More:Paradise lost or island overcoming? Sanibel's recovery hits month five
More:Sanibel Causeway is intact again as trucks roll onto the island battered by Hurricane Ian
Among the damaged buildings was the island's post office, but after a high-profile campaign to return mail to the island, temporary quarters opened last month. The restoration was key to Tuesday's election: With so many displaced residents, 53% of the election's votes were mailed - "a strong Sanibel voter turner out," Smith said. "It shows how engaged our citizenry is."
Before the election, she and Johnson both emphasized that though the storm's destruction was unprecedented, the island's planning and preservation of its natural systems (some 70% of its land is conserved) helped it weather the storm. "Our mangroves, natural beach dune vegetation, and commitment to our environment all contributed to our success," Johnson told The News-Press. So did established relationships with other government agencies, Smith said, and the election affirmed that.
"The voters sent a clear message of expectations and direction, and I believe confirmation that we are and have been making the best decisions possible," she wrote in an email. "I couldn't be more proud of this island community (and) I am so honored to be able to continue to serve this community for the next four years ... continuing all the work required on behalf of our residents, families, businesses, property owners and all who love this island," she said. "I haven’t slowed down since I came onto council in 2017; I won't slow down now."
As Smith did, Johnson lauded the city administration and staff. "We have a great leadership team (and) I am proud to be one of them," he said in an email. "Working with City Manager Dana Souza and his team of professionals along with City Attorney John Agnew, we have been able to weather the storms, the storm surge, the pandemics, the fish kills, and the massive freshwater releases from Lake Okeechobee and our watershed. We will collectively work to recover, rebuild, and become more resilient. All while protecting our quality of life, our economy, our water, our environment, and our families of Sanibel."
Sincoskie congratulated Smith and Johnson and thanked her supporters. "While this is not the outcome we all wanted, the passionate support I received showed us that there is a real want and need for more transparent and commonsense leadership on Sanibel."
None of the candidates immediately returned requests for comment on the election Wednesday morning.
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Sanibel election: Mayor, vice-mayor keep their seats in contest
