Incumbents win re-election in Fort Myers Beach City Council race

Three incumbent candidates survived election night to retain their seats on the Fort Myers Beach City Council, receiving the most votes out of the four candidates.

The top vote-getters were current Mayor Daniel Albers, Vice Mayor Jim Atterholt and Councilman Scott Safford.

In the nonpartisan race, Albers received 32% of the vote, Atterholt received 31%, and Safford received 20% of the vote.

Five council members are elected to four-year terms, and council members elect a mayor from among their ranks.

Community still in recovery mode after Hurricane Yang

Most of the problems on the island revolve around rebuilding the island after Hurricane Ian struck the community in 2022.

The mayor is paid $19,200 per year and council members are paid $16,800 per year.

The candidates represent the entire island, which is home to about 5,600 residents.

Allers, Atterholt and Safford received the most votes in the four-way race for the three positions overall.

The candidates represent the entire island, which is home to about 5,600 residents.

Last summer, the island was partially hit by three major systems, each of which damaged the devastated island city.

A $10 million FEMA emergency berm was dumped on Estero Boulevard during Hurricane Helen, prompting emergency officials to announce an earlier evacuation of Fort Myers Beach because the island does not currently have a protective dune system.

Gentrification of the island community is also an issue, as many middle-income families who lived on the island before Hurricane Yen can no longer afford to pay their mortgages, rebuild their homes and pay rising insurance costs.

Safford has lived in Fort Myers Beach for the past 17 years and was appointed to the City Council in February of this year after then-Councilman Bill Veach resigned.

Safford also worked for the Local Planning Agency for eight years. He founded the Sea Gypsy Inn, which was destroyed by Hurricane Jan.