Early voting continues today and Saturday in advance of the Cape Coral General Election to be held Tuesday, Nov. 3.
Cape Coral voters will decide who will fill three of eight city council seats as well as determine the fate of seven proposed amendments to the city charter, Cape Coral's foundation governing document.
The Breeze, over the past two weeks, has published both endorsements in the three city council races and recommendations concerning the seven charter amendments.
The full endorsement editorials, along with the full charter amendment recommendation editorials, may be found online on cape-coral-daily-breeze.com under Opinion, Editorials
We recap those endorsements and recommendations here.
Cape Coral City Council
District 2
- Vote John Carioscia Sr.
Also running: Kirk LaGrasta
District 3
- Vote Marilyn Stout
Also running: Chris Cammarota
District 7
- Vote Jessica Cosden
Also running: Timothy W. Barrier
Cape Coral City Council races are non-partisan, citywide elections, meaning all voters may cast a ballot in each race, no matter their registered party affiliation or the district in which they live.
Early voting for the 2015 Cape Coral Municipal Election continues through Saturday, Oct. 31, at two early voting locations: the Lee County Elections Cape Coral Branch Office, 1039 S.E. 9th Ave., and the Cape Coral Library, 921 S.W. 39th Terrace.
Hours of operation are Friday, 10 a.m.- 6 p.m. and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3. The polls, at precincts across the city, will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
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Charter Amendment recommendations
The proposed amendments, and our recommendations, are:
SECTION 3.01
REFERENDUM
CHARTER AMENDMENT
LIMITING THE AMOUNT OF
SEVERANCE PAYABLE TO
AT-WILL EMPLOYEES OF
THE CITY MANAGER
This proposal amends the Cape Coral City Charter to limit the amount of severance pay upon at-will termination of employment of Assistant City Managers and City Department Heads, from up to four month's salary as is currently provided, to up to four month's salary or an amount otherwise provided by state law, whichever is less.
Our recommendation: Vote YES
SECTION 4.06
REFERENDUM
CITY CHARTER AMENDMENT Concerning council's power to override budget line item veto by the mayor
This proposal amends the Cape Coral City Charter to decrease the affirmative vote of Council needed to override a veto by the Mayor of a line item in the City Budget from two thirds of the Council to a majority of the Council present, but in no event less than four members of Council.
Our recommendation: Vote NO
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SECTION 4.08
REFERENDUM
CITY CHARTER AMENDMENT RELATING TO THE ANNUAL SALARIES FOR THE MAYOR
AND CITY COUNCIL
This proposal amends the Cape Coral City Charter to provide that Council members shall receive an annual salary of $32,600 and the Mayor shall receive an annual salary of $36,600, rather than an amount based upon the number of registered voters each year. The salaries of the City Council and Mayor shall be adjusted annually beginning in January, 2017 by the percentage amount of the Social Security cost of living adjustment.
Our recommendation: Vote NO
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SECTION 4.19
REFERENDUM
CITY CHARTER AMENDMENT
To allow the adoption of emergency
ordinances
in accordance
with Florida law
This proposal amends the Cape Coral City Charter by replacing the City of Cape Coral's existing regulations and prohibitions for enacting emergency ordinances with the provision that the City may enact emergency ordinances in accordance with state law.
Our recommendation: Vote YES
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SECTION 9.03
REFERENDUM
CITY CHARTER AMENDMENT DECREASING
NUMBER OF
SIGNATURES REQUIRED FOR
INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM PETITIONS
This proposal amends the Cape Coral City Charter by decreasing the number of signatures required for an initiative or referendum petition from fifteen percent (15%) to ten percent (10%) of the total number of qualified electors registered to vote at the last regular city election.
Our recommendation: Vote NO
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SECTION 10.02
REFERENDUM
CITY CHARTER AMENDMENT CLARIFYING DISCRIMINATORY CLASSES FOR PROHIBITED ACTIVITIES FOR CITY POSITIONS OR APPOINTIVE OFFICES
This proposal amends the Cape Coral City Charter to amend the classes of individuals that cannot be discriminated against with respect to any city position or appointive city administrative office, to add classes not previously prohibited such as color, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, age, handicap, marital status, and/ or any other class protected under federal, state or local law.
Our recommendation: Vote NO
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SECTION 10.03
REFERENDUM
CITY CHARTER AMENDMENT AMENDING THE COMPOSITION OF THE CHARTER REVIEW
COMMISSION
This proposal amends the Cape Coral City Charter to decrease the number of members of the Charter Review Commission appointed by City Council from nine (9) members to seven (7) members, and creating two (2) alternate member positions. Alternate members would be able to participate in all discussions, but may vote only when substituting for an absent regular member.
Our recommendation: Vote YES
