Primary goes to BOCC incumbents
The atmosphere at Commissioner Larry Kiker’s watch party was tense as the first numbers of the evening rolled in.
A gasp of dismay swept through the room at the Cypress Lakes Country Club as the TV broadcast that the Lee County Commissioner was tied with District 3 challenger Dick Anderson.
The minutes ticked by, but then Kiker’s campaign manager Terry Miller let out a gasp and took a knee in a moment of relief.
Kiker, the Republican incumbent, tip-toed into the victory with 50.87 percent of the votes. He received 32,892 votes to Anderson’s 31,880 after all 127 precincts were counted.
The uncertainty of the race in the final hour was uncomfortable, he said.
“It felt challenging, but this is what elections are about – people get to make a choice. I’m glad that I got another four years,” he said.
After a short speech to the room filled with his supporters, he got on the dance floor with his wife, Paula.
“Paula wants to celebrate,” he said.
Kiker will face write-in candidate Eli Zoana in the November election.
For District 5 incumbent Frank Mann, the primary wasn’t nearly as exciting as his colleague’s.
Mann gathered with an intimate group of family and friends at Barbara Mann Performance Hall’s Presidential Lounge, named after his mother, on Florida Southwestern College’s campus.
“I’ve been feeling confident,” Mann said of the campaign trail this time around. “I’ve been re-elected twice with a comfortable margin.”
Mann defeated Ken Dobson, a former Fort Myers Fire Department chief, with 54 percent of votes. Mann swept in 36,304 votes and Dobson received 30,862 as the precincts were counted.
Mann has served on the Lee County Commission for 12 years and served in other political offices prior.
He and his wife, Mary Lee, manage the campaign together.
Mann will face Democrat Diane Zigrossi and write-in Sonny Haas in the November election.
Primary goes to BOCC incumbents
The atmosphere at Commissioner Larry Kiker’s watch party was tense as the first numbers of the evening rolled in.
A gasp of dismay swept through the room at the Cypress Lakes Country Club as the TV broadcast that the Lee County Commissioner was tied with District 3 challenger Dick Anderson.
The minutes ticked by, but then Kiker’s campaign manager Terry Miller let out a gasp and took a knee in a moment of relief.
Kiker, the Republican incumbent, tip-toed into the victory with 50.87 percent of the votes. He received 32,892 votes to Anderson’s 31,880 after all 127 precincts were counted.
The uncertainty of the race in the final hour was uncomfortable, he said.
“It felt challenging, but this is what elections are about – people get to make a choice. I’m glad that I got another four years,” he said.
After a short speech to the room filled with his supporters, he got on the dance floor with his wife, Paula.
“Paula wants to celebrate,” he said.
Kiker will face write-in candidate Eli Zoana in the November election.
For District 5 incumbent Frank Mann, the primary wasn’t nearly as exciting as his colleague’s.
Mann gathered with an intimate group of family and friends at Barbara Mann Performance Hall’s Presidential Lounge, named after his mother, on Florida Southwestern College’s campus.
“I’ve been feeling confident,” Mann said of the campaign trail this time around. “I’ve been re-elected twice with a comfortable margin.”
Mann defeated Ken Dobson, a former Fort Myers Fire Department chief, with 54 percent of votes. Mann swept in 36,304 votes and Dobson received 30,862 as the precincts were counted.
Mann has served on the Lee County Commission for 12 years and served in other political offices prior.
He and his wife, Mary Lee, manage the campaign together.
Mann will face Democrat Diane Zigrossi and write-in Sonny Haas in the November election.
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