Cape Coral mayoral candidates dispute threatening messages and campaign tactics

With less than a month until Cape Coral voters decide their next mayor, candidates Lisa Cohen-Adkinson and Rick Erickson are addressing allegations of threatening messages and campaign tactics. Cohen-Adkinson told Gulf Coast News in an interview that she felt unsafe and threatened by messages she attributed to Erickson. The messages included statements such as, “Stop it fully or else,” “There will be a higher price to pay, trust me,” and “Better not underestimate me.” Erickson denied the claims, stating the messages were not directed at Cohen-Adkinson but were part of a group chat involving a local nonprofit chair. “First of all, I was talking to Kyle. If you see the messages to Kyle, not even her,” Erickson said. “My statement was, take all this stuff down, or I'm going to seek legal counsel, which is what I've done already, because it's just it's not the right way to run a campaign.” Cohen-Adkinson questioned Erickson’s response, asking, “If this was the case, why did Erickson not apologize and move on from it? Why take legal action?” Erickson alleged that Cohen-Adkinson’s claims were part of a smear campaign. “She said, gloves off. I don't do that. There's no reason for me to threaten anybody. I don't have to. I'm basically pretty level-headed. I think it's all part of her campaign smear. And I think what she's done has been illegal. And hopefully that Cape Cod police will pursue that,” he said. In a statement, Cohen-Adkinson responded, “The State has since determined there is not enough evidence to support a criminal threat charge. Mr. Erickson has claimed the messages were directed at someone else, a claim I believe is simply untrue and an attempt to walk back on what was said.” Erickson also addressed Cohen-Adkinson’s claim that she felt threatened by a “trained killer,” referring to his background as a Green Beret. “Green Berets are more than trained killers. We actually go in foreign countries and train people. We rebuild their infrastructure, and we do good things,” he said. Erickson and Cohen-Adkinson emphasized that their campaign will not engage in smear tactics. Both candidates said they want what is best for the city and its residents as the election approaches. DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment, and original programming on your TV.