Cape Coral voters pick finalists for mayor, 3 council seats in primary

CAPE CORAL, Fla. (WINK) — Cape Coral voters now have clearer choices heading into November after Tuesday's primary narrowed down four crowded races.

Eight candidates are headed to the general election across four Cape Coral races. The mayoral race will feature Rick Erickson, who finished first in the primary, and Lisa Cohen-Adkinson, who finished second.

Incumbent Mayor John Gunter finished third in the six-way primary and did not attend the city council meeting. The field is also set for three council seats.

Tom Shadrach and Dave Newton will face off in District 1. Liza King and Annette Warren will compete in District 6.

District 4 candidates Jennifer Nelson-Lastra and James Vargas bypassed the primary because they were the only two to qualify. WINK News spoke with voters about what they expect from whoever they send to city hall.

Gene Klein, a Cape Coral neighbor, said the Yacht Club needs to be fixed.

"They need to get the Yacht Club fixed. This is absolutely ridiculous," Klein said.

Klein said one of the biggest priorities for the city's next leaders is a project residents have been waiting years to see completed.

"And we also need jobs, good-paying jobs here in the Cape, so that people in the Cape can live here and work here," Klein said.

Bob Petosa said he wants future leaders to pay attention to what's happening outside residents' front doors.

"Take care of the drainage on some of these streets around here. I know there's 18 inches of water in front of my house," Petosa said.

Deborah, a Cape Coral neighbor, said her vote will come down to how those leaders govern. She wants transparency and fiscal responsibility.

"If you want our vote, then we need to know that you're working for us, and not against us, or not just for the particular party that we belong to, but that you're working for the citizens," Deborah said.

From city projects to infrastructure to how taxpayer money is spent, voters now have until November to decide which candidates they believe can deliver. The general election is Nov. 3.