Alex Orenczuk
•8/19/2026
CHARLOTTE COUNTY, Fla. - Charlotte County voters rejected two longtime county commissioners Tuesday, guaranteeing new representation in Districts 2 and 4.
John Fleming defeated District 2 Commissioner Chris Constance with about 55% of the vote, ending Constance's 16-year run on the commission.
With no opponent waiting in the November general election, Fleming's victory gives him the District 2 seat.
“I'm feeling great. It's a huge victory. I'm proud of everyone, proud of my team. We did a great job, hard fought, but it's all worth it,” Fleming told WINK News.
Fleming said affordability and development are among the issues he plans to focus on once in office.
“Charlotte County's no longer affordable for a lot of people, especially our seniors,” Fleming said. “We have to change that. We have to. And we have to manage development.”
In District 4, former Charlotte County School Board member Kim Amontree defeated longtime Commissioner Stephen R. Deutsch in the Republican primary, receiving about 61% of the vote.
“I am just absolutely thrilled and so grateful for all the people who've come alongside to support me,” Amontree told WINK News. “It's really just been an incredible experience.”
Amontree said growth, infrastructure and property taxes were among the issues she heard about most while speaking with voters.
“Number one is we've grown too fast,” Amontree said. “They want somebody who's going to come in, and that is going to be representing the people, and managing the growth rather than having the developers manage the growth.”
Her primary victory ends Deutsch's 16-year tenure representing District 4, but the race for his seat is not over.
Amontree will face independent candidate Michael Melton in the November general election.
