The highly-contested Cape Coral City Council races were decided Tuesday night in the 2024 General Election, with an all-new dais, featuring some familiar faces, set to govern in the near future. 

Five seats were up: Districts 2, 3, 4, 5, and 7, featuring two incumbents vying for re-election (with a third losing in the primary). 

While candidates must live in the district they seek to represent, Cape Coral City Council races are non-partisan, citywide races, meaning every registered Cape voter, no matter their party affiliation or city address, could cast a ballot in every race.

District 2

Laurie Lehmann will serve as the new Cape Coral City Council District 2 representative, defeating incumbent Dan Sheppard by a 10,000-vote-plus margin. Lehmann received 48,787 votes (56.51%). Sheppard earned 37,540 votes (43.49%).

“I held a watch party tonight to say thank you to everybody that has worked on my campaign and help me get though. I could not have done it alone. This was very much a team effort with a lot of help from a lot of people,” she said. “It’s wonderful to see the support from Cape Coral residents. They like what I stand for. They know they’re going to be heard. I’ve been fighting for the citizens for years, and now I’m going to have some clout fighting for our citizens. They are the most important. (Once in office), I want to stop the stipend and want to revisit this Jaycee Park disaster and see what we can do about it to modify the whole thing so both citizens and council are all content with what we’re doing.”

District 3

Derrick Donnell was the leading vote-getter in District 3 and will once again serve on City Council. He earned 44,801 votes (53.34%), defeating Deborah Lee McCormack who earned 39,194 votes (46.66%). 

“I’m excited to be back to serve the citizens of Cape Coral,” Donnell told The Breeze. “I certainly appreciate all the support that I got, but we’ve got a lot of work to do. And I look forward to getting us back on track as far as bridging the gap and disconnect that I’ve heard of over and over again between the citizens and City Council. And the perception that they’re not being listened to — it’s not a perception, it’s reality. We’re going to work hard at that, and get down to the central issues that face us. That being the UEP infrastructure, the traffic — we’ve just got a lot of work to do, and I’m looking forward to it and I’m ready.”

District 4

Former District 4, former council member Jennifer Nelson will serve once again as she was the top vote-getter in the district, with 43,548 votes (51.08%). She narrowly defeated incumbent Richard Carr, who finished with 41,709 votes (48.92%). 

“It feels so good,” Nelson told The Breeze of being voted back on to City Council “I feel so blessed that our residents have supported me, and I just feel like they understand me. I feel that the residents realized the job I did before and wanted me back. I know that people were upset with incumbents…but I feel our residents were supportive of me. I had so much positive feedback at the polls over and over again. I listen to the residents. When I was on council previously, I met with residents, talked to them and voiced their concerns on the dais and tried to get consensus, and I feel they saw that.”

Carr, who was appointed to the seat after former council member Patty Cummings was suspended from office, told The Breeze, “I’m disappointed that I couldn’t reach enough residents to earn their support in the general election. This has been an unforgettable experience, and I’ll carry it with me into the future. I’d like to thank all the candidates for their hard work and dedication to our city, and I wish them the best moving forward. During the transition, I will continue to serve our city to the best of my ability until Ms. Nelson takes office later this month.”

District 5

In District 5, the top vote-getter and new council member is Joseph Kilraine, with 44,551 votes (52.98%). Kilraine defeated Charlie Pease, who earned 39,434 votes (47.02%). 

“I feel great about the result and the support from the residents,” Kilraine told The Breeze. “My sole purpose is to unite Cape Coral, from the City Council to the residents. It’s time to get to work and start moving forward on infrastructure, as well as focusing on the right things.” 

District 7

In District 7, the top vote-getter and new District 7 council member is Rachel Kaduk who earned with 43,155 votes (53.34%). Kaduk defeated Michael Harper, who received 37,751 votes (46.66%).

“We did it,” Kaduk told The Breeze. “I want to thank all of you for the support you’ve shown me throughout this campaign. I’m deeply humbled to have earned your trust and your vote. This election was never about me – it’s about all of us coming together to make our city a better place. Together, we will tackle the challenges that lie ahead and I promise to be a voice for every resident, to listen, to collaborate, and to make decisions that prioritize the well-being of our residents.

“I also want to thank my team, my family, and all of the volunteers who worked so hard. This victory is just as much yours as it is mine.

“Let’s continue to move forward with hope, determination, and a commitment to making our city a place we can all be proud of.”

Elections results are unofficial until certified.