Cape Coral mayor John Gunter skips meetings after re-election loss, drawing backlash from residents

Cape Coral Mayor John Gunter has been absent from public events and meetings following his loss in Tuesday's mayoral primary, sparking questions and reactions from residents and council members. It’s been two days now since Mayor John Gunter lost his race. He didn’t show up for council Wednesday night, and his parking space was empty Thursday afternoon when he missed yet another public event. Residents have voiced strong opinions about Gunter’s absence. “I think it is terrible. I think it’s disgusting. He should have taken his head out of the sand, face the music, and did the right thing,” said Nancy White, a Cape Coral resident. “Poor sportsmanship! There you go right there!” said Ron, another resident. Political consultant and former local candidate Cindy Banyai shared her perspective on the situation. “These losses can feel very personal, but it’s not, it’s politics. It’s how things go. It’s how the voters feel,” Banyai said. She also offered advice for handling defeat. “If you are not serving the people and the people are upset, they’re going to check you out. You got to put on your big girl panties and deal with it,” Banyai said. Gunter was scheduled to attend a ribbon-cutting event for the St. Jude Dream Home, but council member Laurie Lehman said she was asked to fill in for him ahead of time. “I said, ‘Say no more.’ I planned on being there anyway,” Lehman said. When asked about Gunter’s whereabouts, Lehman said, “I know he’s away on vacation right now, taking a break, because he worked very hard at the polls.” However, Gunter has not publicly confirmed his vacation plans. Councilman Joe Kilraine speculated about the mayor’s absence. “I think probably he just needed a little decompression time. I’ve been on the losing end. It’s not a real happy time,” Kilraine said. The city’s charter states that a council member forfeits their office if they fail to attend three consecutive regular meetings without being excused by the council. Gunter’s absence on Wednesday was excused. Some voters shared their thoughts on the situation. “It would seem like it’s sour grapes,” said Marsha McCart, a Cape Coral resident. “It’s been a long time coming. He better stop and think about it again. He may want to do this again,” said Larry McCart, another resident. Gulf Coast News reached out to Gunter for comment over the past two days but has not received a response. 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.